1. Variations on Aschs Research

2. In further trials, Asch changed the procedure of his study in order to investigate which factors influenced the level of conformity. Some of his findings are outlined below:

3. The Size of group
Asch found that conformity tends to increase as the size of the group increases.
However, there is little change in conformity once the group size reaches 4-5.
With one other person (i.e. confederate) in the group conformity was 3%, with two others it increased to 13% and with three or more it was 32% (or 1/3).
Because conformity does not seem to increase in groups larger four, this is considered the optimal group size.

4. Non conforming role model
When one other person in the group gave a different answer from the others, conformity dropped
Asch (1951) found that even the presence of just one confederate that goes against the majority choice can reduce conformity as much as 80%.

5. Difficulty of Task
When the (comparison) lines (e.g. A, B, C) were made more similar in length it was harder to judge the correct answer and conformity increased, reflecting Asch’s results.
When we are uncertain, it seems we look to others for confirmation. The more difficult the task the greater the conformity.

6. Giving answers in private
When participants could write their answers down rather than announce them in public, conformity dropped.

7. Factors affecting conformity: Further research evidence
Furman and Duke (1988)  
This study looked at how a lack of confidence in the given task may affect conformity.
The students used as participants were either majoring in music or in another subject for their degree course.
Students were asked to listen to two versions of a piece of music and to state their preference, individually then in the presence of confederates.
Music majors were not influenced to change their already stated preferences.
However, the publicly stated preferences of non-music majors were significantly affected by the preferences of the confederates.

8. Factors affecting conformity: Further research evidence
 Eagly and Carli (1981)
Eagly and Carli carried out a meta-analysis to examine whether the popular idea that women are more conforming than men is supported by research evidence.
They found that, although women were more likely to conform than men, the size of the difference was very small.
They also found that the difference between men and women appears most in group-pressure situations where conformity occurs in public; in private the difference virtually disappears.
In other words, women are more likely to comply with the group opinion rather than internalise it.

9. Factors affecting conformity: Further research evidence
Perrin and Spencer (1980) 
Perrin and Spencer suggested that the Asch effect was a "child of its time".
They carried out an exact replication of the original Asch experiment using engineering, mathematics and chemistry students as subjects.
They found that on only one out of 396 trials did an observer join the majority when they were wrong.
They argue that a cultural change has taken place in the value placed on conformity and obedience and in the position of students.
However, the nature of Perrin and Spencer’s sample could have also had an effect because students of engineering, maths and chemistry may have been more confident in performing the task because of the nature of their studies.  

10. Factors affecting conformity: Further research evidence
Smith and Bond (1998)
Smith and Bond also found that culture can affect conformity rates.
Their meta-analysis of studies from a range of different countries found that the average conformity rate in collectivist countries was 37%, whereas individualist countries had the much lower rate of 25%.
In collectivist cultures, members are socialised to value the collective goals of the group, while in individualist cultures, the emphasis is on personal achievement and independence.