[Date]
KEY RESEARCH + STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
Social Influence (24 marks) – Paper 1
Research Topic Key facts Strengths Weaknesses Issues
er and
debates
Asch Conformity M:123 males (1p to 6-8 conf) -ethics (decep+PfH) -beta bias
(1951) M:line test -low ecological validity – -cultural bias
mundane realism
R:32% conformed always, 74% at -deterministic
least once -low temporal validity –
-nomothetic
Perrin & Spencer
C:group size ideal 3-14
-independent behave not
Group size = decrease
conformity (only 1/3 wrong,
Unanimity = decrease 2/3 original)
Task difficulty = increase
Zimbardo Conformity to M: 21 males $15/day +high control -ethics (PfH-5 home) -beta bias
(1973) Social Roles
R: identifies with roles: prisoners +high internal validity -lack of realism (play -deterministic
rebel/submissive and guards acting/demand
- Replication – Reicher
aggressive/dehumanise characteristics)
& Haslam
-ended after 6 days -individual difference
exaggerated (guards: 1/3
C:situational factors affect conformity
abusive, 1/3 fair, 1/3 helped
prisoners) - Fromm
Milgram Obedience M:40 males $4.5 +support for agentic state – -ethics (decep+PfH) -beta bias
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,(1963) M: p=teacher, conf=student Blass & Schmitt
M:recall test +support for uniform - -ecological validity -deterministic
Blckman
M:start at 15V -> 450V, up by 15V -internal validity (p might -nomothetic
mistrust shocks were real)
M:no signal after 300V
-degree of authority – Kilman
M: until refuse, but encouraged
& Mann (only 16% reached
R: all to 300V, 65% to 450V 450V) and Mantell (85$
reached 450V in Germany-
Agentic State = increase 92%
1971)
Loc+ Legitimate Au= decrease 47%
Proximity (t+l) = decrease 40%
Proximity (LA) = decrease 20%
Uniform + LA(p) = decrease 20%
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, Adorno Authoritarian M: 2,000 Caucasian males + Fscale + Milgram interview support -less educated > AP -cultural bias
(1950) Personality
R: “strong people” = status conscious -methodology – social -nomothetic
+ disrespect “weak” desirable
-deterministic
R: AP = cognitive style (schemas) -political bias – ignores
extreme left-wing
R: + correlation = AP and prejudice
-temporal validity – people
C: AP = more obedient to power +
were scared not to obey
uncomfortable with uncertainty
Miscovici Minority M: 172 females +supports ISI -methodology – low external -beta bias
(1969) Influence- validity
R: consistent group 8.2% conformity,
Consistency
inconsistent group 1.25% conformity -low population validity
Nemeth Minority R: flexible > inflexible
(1986) Influence-
Flexibility
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KEY RESEARCH + STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
Social Influence (24 marks) – Paper 1
Research Topic Key facts Strengths Weaknesses Issues
er and
debates
Asch Conformity M:123 males (1p to 6-8 conf) -ethics (decep+PfH) -beta bias
(1951) M:line test -low ecological validity – -cultural bias
mundane realism
R:32% conformed always, 74% at -deterministic
least once -low temporal validity –
-nomothetic
Perrin & Spencer
C:group size ideal 3-14
-independent behave not
Group size = decrease
conformity (only 1/3 wrong,
Unanimity = decrease 2/3 original)
Task difficulty = increase
Zimbardo Conformity to M: 21 males $15/day +high control -ethics (PfH-5 home) -beta bias
(1973) Social Roles
R: identifies with roles: prisoners +high internal validity -lack of realism (play -deterministic
rebel/submissive and guards acting/demand
- Replication – Reicher
aggressive/dehumanise characteristics)
& Haslam
-ended after 6 days -individual difference
exaggerated (guards: 1/3
C:situational factors affect conformity
abusive, 1/3 fair, 1/3 helped
prisoners) - Fromm
Milgram Obedience M:40 males $4.5 +support for agentic state – -ethics (decep+PfH) -beta bias
1 | Page
,(1963) M: p=teacher, conf=student Blass & Schmitt
M:recall test +support for uniform - -ecological validity -deterministic
Blckman
M:start at 15V -> 450V, up by 15V -internal validity (p might -nomothetic
mistrust shocks were real)
M:no signal after 300V
-degree of authority – Kilman
M: until refuse, but encouraged
& Mann (only 16% reached
R: all to 300V, 65% to 450V 450V) and Mantell (85$
reached 450V in Germany-
Agentic State = increase 92%
1971)
Loc+ Legitimate Au= decrease 47%
Proximity (t+l) = decrease 40%
Proximity (LA) = decrease 20%
Uniform + LA(p) = decrease 20%
2 | Page
, Adorno Authoritarian M: 2,000 Caucasian males + Fscale + Milgram interview support -less educated > AP -cultural bias
(1950) Personality
R: “strong people” = status conscious -methodology – social -nomothetic
+ disrespect “weak” desirable
-deterministic
R: AP = cognitive style (schemas) -political bias – ignores
extreme left-wing
R: + correlation = AP and prejudice
-temporal validity – people
C: AP = more obedient to power +
were scared not to obey
uncomfortable with uncertainty
Miscovici Minority M: 172 females +supports ISI -methodology – low external -beta bias
(1969) Influence- validity
R: consistent group 8.2% conformity,
Consistency
inconsistent group 1.25% conformity -low population validity
Nemeth Minority R: flexible > inflexible
(1986) Influence-
Flexibility
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