Asch’s Line graph study

When was Asch's line study?

1951

What was the aim of Asch (1951)?

Extent to which social pressure to conform from an unanimous majoirty affects conformity in a clear situation

Who investigated social pressure to conform from an unanimous majority?

Asch (1951)

What type of experiment was Asch (1951)?

Lab experiment

Variables in Asch (1951)

DV = Ps response

IV = Confederate response

DV in Asch (1951)

Ps response

IV in Asch (1951)

Confederate response

What sampling technique did Asch (1951) use?

Volunteer sampling

Who were the Ps in Asch (1951)?

123

American

male

undergraduate students

believed they were doing a vision test

What did the 123 American male undergraduate students in Asch (1951) believe they were doing?

Vision test

What task did Ps do in Asch (1951)?

Line judgement task

Method of Asch (1951)

-One real P placed in a room with 6-8 confederates and ALWAYS sat 2nd to last

-P completed 18 trails

-Confederates say same wrong answer in 12 trails (critical trails)

What were the critical trails in Asch (1951) and how many were there?

Trials when confederates all say same wrong answer

12/18 were critical trials

Where was the real P ALWAYS sat in Asch (1951)?

2nd to last

How many trails did the P do in Asch (1951) and how many were critical?

18

12 critical

Results of Asch (1951)

32% of critical trails P conformed

74% of Ps conformed at least once

26% of Ps never conformed

What % of critical trails did Ps conform in Asch (1951)?

32%

What did 32% of Ps conform to in Asch (1951)?

Critical trails

How many Ps conformed in at least 1 critical trials in Asch (1951)?

74%

What did 74% of Ps conform to in Asch (1951)?

At least 1 critical trial

How many Ps never conformed in Asch (1951)?

26%

What did 26% of Ps in Asch (1951) do?

Didn't conform at all

Conclusion of Asch (1951)

Most Ps said they conformed to fit in or avoid ridicule

Why did most Ps say they conformed in Asch (1951)?

Fit in or avoid ridicule

Did Asch do later variations of his experiments?

Yes

3 different variations of Asch's study

-Group size

-Unanimity

-Task difficulty

What is the only Asch condition that increased conformity?

Higher task difficulty

Effect of using a harder task in Asch (1951)

Increased conformity levels

What effect did the other 2 different conditions in Asch (1951) have?

Lowered levels of conformity

2 limitations of ISI

Individual differences

Dual process oversimplified

Limitation of ISI - Individual differences

P: Individual differences

E: Asch (1995) found students Ps conformed less than other Ps

Perrin + Spencer (1980) found less conformity in students

I+D: Asch shows beta bias

C: People who are knowledgeable less likely to be influenced

Limitation of ISI - Dual process is oversimplified

P: Dual process is oversimplified

E: When there was a dissenter in Asch (1951) conformity reduced but don't know if that's due to ISI or NSI

I+D: Demonstrates free will

C: Isn't always possible to know if ISI or NSI causing conformity so questions view of them acting independently