Practise Edexcel Psychology questions on Asch’s line-judgement study, its findings, variation studies and the strengths and limits of laboratory conformity research.
Evaluate Asch's (1951) research into conformity.
COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
AO1 (4 marks), AO3 (4 marks)
A01
- Asch's (1951) conformity study was tested in a laboratory
in order to see the extent to which social pressure from a
majority group could influence a person to conform.
- An opportunity sample of 50 male students from
Swarthmore College in America participated in Asch's
(1951) conformity experiment.
- Participants in the experimental room had to state out
loud which comparison line ( 1,2,3 ) was most like the
target line.
- Asch (1951) found that 74\% of participants conformed at
least once on the critical trials giving the incorrect
answers and following the majority.
AO3
- Testing conformity in a laboratory environment provides
control over variables that could have affected the
dependent variable of the number of incorrect responses
given by the participants.
- Asch's (1951) experiment lacks population validity as he
did not use female participants in his sample therefore his
results lack generalisability as he cannot conclude that
women would conform the same as men.
- Judging line lengths is not a realistic way to measure
conformity therefore Asch's (1951) experiment lacks task
(internal) validity as a line task cannot be generalised to
conformity examples in real life.
- Asch replicated his research several times creating
different variations which all supported his initial findings
that the minority would conform to a majority increasing
reliability of his 1951 study.
Look for other reasonable marking points.
(8)
\begin{tabular}[t]{|l|l|l|}
\hline Level
Mark
Descriptor
AO1 (4 marks), AO3 (4 marks)
Candidates must demonstrate an equal emphasis between knowledge and
understanding vs evaluation/ conclusion in their answer.
0
No rewardable material.
Level 1
1-2
Marks
Demonstrates isolated elements of knowledge and understanding.
(AO1)
A conclusion may be presented, but will be generic and the
supporting evidence will be limited. Limited attempt to address the
question. (AO3)
Level 2
3-4
Marks
Demonstrates mostly accurate knowledge and understanding. (AO1)
Candidates will produce statements with some development in the
form of mostly accurate and relevant factual material, leading to a
superficial conclusion being made. (AO3)
Level 3
5-6
Marks
Demonstrates accurate knowledge and understanding. (AO1)
Arguments developed using mostly coherent chains of reasoning
leading to a conclusion being presented. Candidates will demonstrate
a grasp of competing arguments but evaluation may be imbalanced.
(AO3)
Level 4
7-8
Marks
Demonstrates accurate and thorough knowledge and understanding.
(AO1)
Displays a well-developed and logical evaluation, containing logical
chains of reasoning throughout. Demonstrates an awareness of
competing arguments, presenting a balanced conclusion. (AO3)