Back to AI Flashcard MakerPsychology /2023-2025 Year 12 A-Level Psychology Social Influence: Variables Affecting Conformity TW
2023-2025 Year 12 A-Level Psychology Social Influence: Variables Affecting Conformity TW
This deck covers key concepts related to social influence and variables affecting conformity, based on Asch's experiments and related studies.
Name three variables that affect conformity
Group size; Unanimity; Task Difficulty
Tap or swipe ↕ to flip
Swipe ←→Navigate
1/35
Key Terms
Term
Definition
Name three variables that affect conformity
Group size; Unanimity; Task Difficulty
Which variable was investigated by making the lines similar lengths?
Task difficulty
Which variable was investigated by having a ‘lone’ confederate give a different, incorrect answer?
Unanimity
Which variable was investigated by increasing the number of the confederates?
Group size
HOW was task difficulty investigated?
By making the comparison lines more similar in length
HOW was unanimity investigated?
By having a confederate give a different incorrect answer AND give the correct answer
Related Flashcard Decks
Study Tips
- Press F to enter focus mode for distraction-free studying
- Review cards regularly to improve retention
- Try to recall the answer before flipping the card
- Share this deck with friends to study together
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Name three variables that affect conformity | Group size; Unanimity; Task Difficulty |
Which variable was investigated by making the lines similar lengths? | Task difficulty |
Which variable was investigated by having a ‘lone’ confederate give a different, incorrect answer? | Unanimity |
Which variable was investigated by increasing the number of the confederates? | Group size |
HOW was task difficulty investigated? | By making the comparison lines more similar in length |
HOW was unanimity investigated? | By having a confederate give a different incorrect answer AND give the correct answer |
HOW was group size investigated? | By increasing the size of the majority (the number of confederates) |
When Asch used one real participant and one confederate, what was the conformity rate? | 3% |
When Asch used one real participant and two confederates, what was the conformity rate? | 13% |
When Asch used one real participant and three confederates, what was the conformity rate? | 32% |
What did Asch CONCLUDE about group size and conformity? | The size of the majority does effect conformity, but only to a point |
What does unanimity mean? | Complete agreement from a group |
What was the conformity rate in Asch’s original study? | 37% |
What was FOUND when one confederate gave the right answer? | Conformity rates dropped to 5.5% |
What was FOUND when one confederate gave a different, incorrect answer? | Conformity rates dropped to 9% |
HOW did Asch investigate task difficulty? | By making the comparison lines more similar in length |
HOW did Asch investigate unanimity? | By having confederates give a different incorrect answer / the correct answer |
HOW did Asch investigate group size? | By increasing the majority (the number of confederates) |
What explanation of conformity is used with explaining conformity during harder tasks? | Informational Social Influence |
Informational social influence is used to explain conformity during which variable? | Task difficulty (harder tasks) |
TASK DIFFICULTY: What happens when the right answer becomes less obvious to us? | We lose confidence in our ability |
GROUP SIZE: When Asch used one participant and one confederate, the conformity rate was 5.5% | False - 3% |
GROUP SIZE: When Asch used one participant and three confederates, the conformity rate was 13% | False - 32% |
How many confederates were used within Asch’s original experiment? | 7-9 |
How many genuine (naïve) participants were used in Asch's original experiment? | 1 |
How many genuine (naïve) participants were used in Asch's variation experiments? | 1 |
AO3: Lucas et al's study supports which variable affecting conformity? | Task difficulty |
AO3: Task difficulty as a variable affecting conformity is supported by which study? | Lucas et al |
AO3: In what ways do Asch's variations lack external validity? | Gender bias; Culture bias; Low ecological validity |
AO3: Do Asch's variations have high or low ecological validity? Why? | Low - lab experiments, and so conducted in an artificial environment |
AO3: Which study illustrates why Asch's findings can't be generalised to females? | Neto 1995 |
AO3: Which study illustrates why Asch's findings can't be generalised to non-Western cultures | Bond and Smith 1996 |
"Conformity rates increase as the majority group increases" This finding is from which variable affecting conformity? | Group size |
"When there is a dissenter within the majority, conformity decreases" This finding is from which variable affecting conformity? | Unanimity |
"When the right answer becomes less obvious, we lose confidence and are more likely to conform" This finding is from which variable affecting conformity? | Task difficulty |