Asch Conformity Studies Analysis

Your response to the question should be provided in six parts: A, B, C, D, E, and F. Write the response to each part of the question in complete sentences. Use appropriate psychological terminology in your response.

Group 1

Using the source provided, respond to the following questions.

Source 1.1

Asch Conformity Studies

Introduction

Solomon Asch's conformity studies, conducted in the 1950s, sought to illuminate the power of social pressure on individual judgment. His research demonstrated that people could be influenced to conform to the beliefs and opinions of a group, even when those beliefs were clearly incorrect.

Participants

Asch's original study involved 50 male students from Swarthmore College. These participants were placed in groups of 7 to 9 individuals. However, only one individual in each group was a genuine participant; all others were confederates instructed to behave in specific ways.

Methods

● Line Judgment Task: Participants were shown a standard line and then asked to choose the matching line from a set of three comparison lines. The task was purposely straightforward, with a clearly correct answer.

● Intentional Errors: Confederates were instructed to unanimously select the same incorrect line on predetermined "critical trials." The unsuspecting participant was placed in a position where they had to choose between their own perception and the group consensus.

● In additional variations of the original research, Asch modified things like having another person who would break from the group consensus or varying the group size. These changes showed additional aspects of the conformity effect.

Data

Asch recorded the number of instances where the participant conformed with the group's incorrect answer versus times they chose the correct answer. Interviews with participants after the study shed light on their motivations for conforming or not.

Results

Asch's results were startling:

● Conformity Rates: Approximately 75% of participants conformed to the incorrect group judgment at least once. Overall, conformity occurred in 37% of critical trials.

● Individual Differences: While many conformed, 25% of the participants never yielded to the group's incorrect judgment.

Asch, S. E. (1951). Effects of group pressure upon the modification and distortion of judgments. In H. Guetzkow (Ed.), Groups, leadership, and men (pp. 177–190). Carnegie Press. Asch, S. E. (1951). Opinions and social pressure. Psychological Monographs, 65(9, Whole No. 377).

Source 1.2

| Trial Type | Percentage of Participants Conforming |
|------------|--------------------------------------|
| Control (No Confederates) | Less than 1% |
| Critical Trials (Confederates Provide Incorrect Answers) | 33% |

Source 1.3

The relationship between group size and conformity

Question 1a

Short answer

Identify the research method used in the study.

Question 1b

Short answer

State the operational definition of conformity.

Question 1c

Short answer

Describe the meaning of the differences in the percentages of participants conforming to the group answer at the different group sizes.

Question 1d

Short answer

Identify at least one ethical guideline applied by the researchers.

Question 1e

Short answer

Explain the extent to which the research findings may or may not be generalizable using specific and relevant evidence from the study.

Question 1f

Short answer

Explain how at least one of the research findings supports or refutes the researcher’s hypothesis that subjects would conform to incorrect answers given unanimously by a group, even when the subject knew the answer was incorrect.

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