Asch (1951) conformity study - AO1

Aim

The Asch 1951 conformity study aimed to investigate the effects of majority influence pressure on individuals in unambiguous situations.

Sample

The sample size consisted of 50 males from Swarthmore College in America. All believed they were taking a vision test.

Procedure

The procedure follows, Asch used a line judgement test on a group of individuals -  consisting of seven confederates and one participant who always sat second last - however the real participant was deceived and believed the confederates were also participants.Each participant completed 18 trials and the confederate gave the same false answer on 12 trials.

Results

The results show that 32% of the time in clinical trials participants conformed. Afterwards, Asch interviewed his participants to find out why they conformed, many participants said that they knew the answer was wrong but they wanted to fit in or they didn't want to be ridiculed.

Conclusion

Asch concluded that participants conformed due to normative social influences and the desire to fit in when under majority influence pressure.

Variations

• Group size (no. of confederates, 1 confederate = low conformity, +3 confederates = high conformity)

• unanimity (one confederate gave the right answer, along with the participant = low conformity)

• Difficulty ( line judgement task because harder, informational social influence = high conformity)

• Private answers (participates wrote their answers down after hearing everyone else’s answers = lower conformity)