Social Influence: Conformity: Asch (1955)

1. What were the evaluative points?

Asch's study was unethical, as it involved deciet; participants believed it was a study of visual perception. It also involved psychological harm, with participants put under stress through disagreeing with others
Asch's study was ethical, it was a study of visual perception. It also involved no psychological harm, participants were not put under stress through disagreeing with others
Asch's study was unethical, as it involved deciet; participants believed it was a study of visual perception. It also involved psychological harm, with participants put under stress through agreeing with others
Asch's study was ethical, participants believed it was a study of visual perception. It also involved psychological harm, with participants put under stress through disagreeing with others

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There are small individual differences in the amount to which people are affected by majority influence. As most participants conformed publicly not privately, it suggests that they were motivated by informational social influence.
There are big individual differences in the amount to which people are affected by majority influence. As most participants conformed publicly not privately, it suggests that they were motivated by informational social influence.
There are big individual differences in the amount to which people are affected by majority influence. As most participants conformed publicly not privately, it suggests that they were motivated by normative social influence.
There are small individual differences in the amount to which people are affected by majority influence. As most participants conformed publicly not privately, it suggests that they were motivated by normative social influence.

Distortion of action (compliance), Distortion of perception (identification), Distortion of judgement (internalisation)
Distortion of action (internalisation), Distortion of perception (compliance), Distortion of judgement (identification)
Distortion of action (normative social influence), Distortion of perception (identification), Distortion of judgement (compliance)
Distortion of action (compliance), Distortion of perception (informational social influene), Distortion of judgement (internalisation)

123 British male students took part in what they believed was a visual perception test. They were placed in groups of confederates. They had to look at lines and compare them. There were 18 trials, 12 were critical. The real pp answered last.
123 American male students took part in what they believed was a visual perception test. They were placed in groups of confederates. They had to look at lines and compare them. There were 18 trials, 12 were critical. The real pp answered last.
123 American male students took part in what they believed was a visual perception test. They were placed in groups of confederates. They had to look at lines and compare them. There were 18 trials, 12 were critical. The real pp answered first.
123 American female students took part in what they believed was a visual perception test. They were placed in groups of confederates. They had to look at lines and compare them. There were 18 trials, 12 were critical. The real pp answered last.

To investigate the degree to which graphs would conform to a majority who gave obviously right answers
To investigate the degree to which graphs would conform to a majority who gave obviously wrong answers
To investigate the degree to which individuals would conform to a majority who gave obviously wrong answers
To investigate the degree to which individuals would conform to a majority who gave obviously right answers