Evaluation of the Asch (1955) and Mori & Arai (2010) studies

Strengths     

• Can be replicated ( Perrin and Spencer)
• Supports the idea of conformity
• There were high levels of control as it was a laboratory experiment which ensures that a cause and effect  relationship between variables can be established. Therefore it has a higher internal validity because there will be no extraneous variables affecting the results.

Weaknesses

• Lacks ecological explanation 

• Biased sample – only white men
• Cannot be replicated to real life situations 

Contributed to our Psychological understanding of conformity?

Normative Social Influence (NSI) - 

• some participants reported that they conformed to fit in with the group linking to the idea of normative social influence and demonstrating compliance
• Instances where people conform to 'fit in' and gain approval or avoid disapproval by others.
• Do not want to appear foolish/stupid so we follow the groups norms.
• Emotional process.
• Tends to lead to Compliance.
• The desire to be liked

Strengths

• Female and male samples
• Japenese students - different culture than Asch
• Participants knew each other which is a strength because how we conform with friends and family is more relevant than how we conform with strangers

Weaknesses

• Since only Japanese students were used, the finds can't be generalised to everyone: one because its only one age group and two because it doesn't reflect  multiple cultures.

Contribute to Psychological understanding of Conformity?

Better understanding of individual differences in conformity

Reduced comfority in males could reflect the generational changes since the 1950's