Outline and evaluate research into conformity

One study into conformity would be sheriffs auto kinetic effect experiment. Sheriffs aim was to demonstrate that people conform to group norms when they are put into an ambiguous situation. The method was he would use a lab experiment to study conformity. He used the auto kinetic effect, this is where a small spot of light (projected onto a screen) in a dark room will appear to move even though it is still. It was discovered that when the participant were individually tested their estimates on how far the light moved varied considerably. The participant was then then tested in the groups of 3. Sheriff manipulated the composition of the group by putting together two people whose estimate of the light movement when alone was very similar, and one person whose estimate was very different. Each person in the group had to say aloud how far they thought the light had moved. The results of this were Sheriff found that over numerous estimates of the movement of light, the group converged to a common estimate. The participants estimates of movement were greatly different to the other two in the group compared the group of the other two. Sheriff said that this showed that people would always tend to conform. Rather than make individual judgements they tend to come to a group agreement. Sheriff concluded that the results show that when in an ambiguous situation, a person will look to others who know more or better than them for guidance. They want to do the appropriate thing but may lack the appropriate information. Observing others can provide this information which therefore shows informational influence. The participants were therefore likely to internalise the views of the group. Strength of sheriffs study was that it was an lab experiment, therefore this means all variables can be controlled and any extraneous variables can be isolated from the study. In turn this creates a causal relationship where any effect on the DV is only due to the IV increasing the studys internal validity. Another study done into conformity can be demonstrated by Aschs line judgement experiment. Asch used a lab experiment to study conformity. Asch believed that the main problem with Sheriffs conformity experiment was that there was no correct answer to the auto kinetic experiment. How could we be sure that a person conformed when there was no correct answer? Asch (1951) devised an experiment whereby there was an obvious answer to a line judgement task. If the participants gave an incorrect answer, it would be clear to say that this was due to group pressure. Therefore Asch conducted an experiment to investigate the extent to which social pressure from a majority could affect an person to conform. Asch put a nave participant in a room with 7 confederates. The confederates had agreed in advanced what their responses would be when presented with the line task. The real participant did not know this and was lead to believe that the other 7 participants were also real participants like him. Each person in the room had to

state aloud which comparison line (A,B,C) was most like the target line. The answer was obvious. The real participant sat at the end of the tow and gave his/her answer last. In some trials, the seven confederates gave the wrong answer. There were 18 trials in total and the confederates gave the wrong answer on 12 trials. Asch was interested to see if the real participant would conform to the majority view. Asch measured the number of times each participant conformed to the majority view. One average about 32% of the participants in each trial went along and confirmed to the clearly incorrect majority. 75% conformed on at least on trial. After the experiment, the participants were interviewed after, most of them had said they did not really believe their conforming answers, but had gone along with group for fear of being ridiculed or though peculiar. A few of them said that they didnt really believe the groups answers were correct. Both studies were carried out in similar environments with similar participants; therefore they share many of the sae strengths and limitations. The results of both studies cannot be applied to other settings as they lack ecological validly because the artificial groups were created, and also Aschs research lacks validity because people are among strangers, In real life situations conformity usually takes place when people are in groups whom have long lasting ties with i.e., friends and family. Aschs study cannot be applied to other populations because the research is situated within a particular historical and cultural context. 1950s America. They produce similar results; therefore they can be seen as reliable. Both studied have been critised for their ethics issue, of deception, informed consent, right to withdraw and protection of participitants.