Evaluate research on conformity to group norms.
Asch (1951)
Aim: To investigate whether perceived group pressure by a majority can influence a minority in an experimental set-up that is not ambiguous
Procedure:
Aim: To investigate whether perceived group pressure by a majority can influence a minority in an experimental set-up that is not ambiguous
Procedure:
- participants were informed that they are taking part in a study of visual perception
- asked to indicate which one of three comparison lines is equal in length to a standard line
- this task is repeated 18 times, each time with different cards, showing lines of different lengths
- when participants performed it alone (control group) they are nearly always right
Control group
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Experimental group
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Findings:
- 76% of participants conformed on at least 1 critical trial
- 24% of participants remained independent
- participants told the researcher that they conformed in order to avoid criticism and social disapproval
Strengths
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Limitations
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