In Asch’s classic study of conformity, what were research participants asked to do?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
In Solomon Asch’s classic study of conformity, participants were asked to participate in a vision test where they had to match the length of a line to three comparison lines. Specifically, each participant was placed in a group with several confederates (individuals who were in on the experiment) who had been instructed to give incorrect answers on certain trials. The participant’s task was to indicate which of the three comparison lines matched the length of a standard line shown to them.
Asch’s experiments, conducted in the early 1950s, aimed to investigate the extent to which social pressure from a majority group could influence an individual’s judgment. In one variation of the study, participants were presented with a line (the standard line) and asked to select which of the three lines (the comparison lines) was the same length. The confederates would unanimously provide the wrong answer on certain trials, prompting the real participant to either conform to the group’s incorrect answer or maintain their independent judgment.
Asch found that a significant number of participants conformed to the incorrect majority at least once during the experiment, demonstrating the powerful impact of group influence on individual behavior. About 75% of participants conformed to the majority’s incorrect answers on at least one of the critical trials, while only about 25% consistently provided the correct responses regardless of group pressure.
The study highlighted the conflict between individual judgment and group conformity, emphasizing the role of social dynamics in decision-making. Asch concluded that individuals often yield to group pressure, even when they know the group is wrong, suggesting that social influences can significantly shape perceptions and decisions. This study remains a foundational piece in the field of social psychology, illustrating the complexities of human behavior in group contexts.