Solomon Asch's Experiment: Key Study Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

When did Asch devise his classic experiment?

1951

What was Asch's initial aim?

To investigate how people conformed in an unambiguous situation.

What was Asch's independent variable (IV)?

The answers given by the confederates.

What was Asch's dependent variable (DV)?

The level of conformity. Signup and view all the answers

What did Asch mean by an 'unambiguous situation'?

A situation that is familiar to an individual. Signup and view all the answers

What are confederates?

An actor involved in a psychological experiment who appears to be a participant but is actually working for the researcher. Signup and view all the answers

Within each of Asch's trials, how many confederates did Asch recruit?

Between six and eight confederates. Signup and view all the answers

How many participants did Asch recruit and what characteristics did they have in common?

123 male undergraduate participants. Signup and view all the answers

How many trials did each participant take part in?

18 trials. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the process required for Asch to test conformity.

Participants identified which comparison line matched the standard line in length, with confederates providing incorrect answers. Signup and view all the answers

How many true participants conformed at least once?

75% Signup and view all the answers

What did Asch find to be the average conformity rate across the 18 trials?

36.8% Signup and view all the answers

Why did 75% of the participants conform at least once?

Due to distortion of perception, judgment, action, and fear of rejection. Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of Asch conducting variations of his original study?

To investigate whether different conditions would increase or decrease the rate of conformity. Signup and view all the answers

How many variations did Asch conduct within his experiment?

Three variations. Signup and view all the answers

Name and briefly outline Asch's first variation.

Group size: Asch altered the number of confederates to see how this affected conformity, finding an optimal group size of three. Signup and view all the answers

Name and briefly outline Asch's second variation.

Unanimity of the majority: Introducing a dissenting confederate lowered conformity rates significantly. Signup and view all the answers

Name and briefly outline Asch's third variation.

Difficulty of the task: Making the task more difficult led to an increase in conformity. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Solomon Asch's Experiment Overview

Conducted in 1951 to explore conformity in clear situations.
Focused on how individuals adapt opinions based on group pressure.

Research Design

Independent variable included the answers provided by confederates.
Dependent variable measured the level of conformity among participants.
Utilized a scenario with a standard line and three comparison lines for participants to match.

Participants and Confederates

Included 123 male undergraduate students as participants.
Engaged between six to eight confederates per trial.
Each participant participated in 18 total trials, with 12 being critical trials with incorrect responses.

Conformity Findings

75% of participants conformed at least once, indicating strong peer influence.
Average conformity rate was 36.8% across trials.

Reasons for Conformity

Distortion of perception led some to see lines as the majority did.
Distortion of judgement caused doubt in personal accuracy.
Distortion of action saw participants change responses to avoid conflict.
Fear of rejection influenced some to conform instead of standing out.

Variations of the Experiment

Conducted three variations to assess factors influencing conformity rates.

Variation 1: Group Size

Tested effect of group size on conformity levels.
Found conformity peaked at 31.8% with three or more confederates; larger groups showed diminishing returns.
Optimal group size determined to be three confederates.

Variation 2: Unanimity of the Majority

Introduced a dissenter among confederates, reducing conformity rates by about 25%.
Presence of a dissenting voice empowered participants to act independently.

Variation 3: Difficulty of the Task

Increased difficulty in matching lines led to higher conformity rates as comparisons became less distinct.

Conclusion

Asch's research revealed significant insights into the dynamics of social influence and conformity under varying conditions.

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Description

This quiz focuses on the key aspects of Solomon Asch's classic conformity experiment conducted in 1951. Test your knowledge on the study's aims, variables, and findings related to social psychology and group dynamics.