Lesson 4.1.1.2

4.1.1.2 Explanations for conformity and Asch's variables Quiz: AQA Psychology, Unit 1

20 questions

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Lesson 4.1.1.2, Explanations for conformity and Asch's variables: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Psychology (7182), Unit 1: Introductory topics in Psychology, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which explanation of conformity is based on the wish to be right and the use of others as a source of information in an unclear situation?

    • Informational social influence
    • Agentic state
    • Authoritarian personality
    • Normative social influence

  2. Which explanation of conformity is based on the desire to be liked and accepted by the group?

    • Informational social influence
    • Legitimacy of authority
    • Normative social influence
    • Locus of control

  3. Which type of conformity is most often linked to informational social influence?

    • Obedience
    • Compliance
    • Internalisation
    • Identification with a dominant leader

  4. Which type of conformity is most often linked to normative social influence?

    • Compliance
    • Minority-led resistance
    • Authoritarian obedience
    • Internalisation

  5. In Asch's line task, what was the standard task that participants were asked to do?

    • Judge which of three comparison lines matched the length of a standard line
    • Recall a list of words after a delay
    • Complete a series of shapes in a logical order
    • Choose which of three coloured cards matched a list of numbers

  6. What is the typical finding of Asch's research on conformity?

    • Participants conformed on every critical trial whenever the group was present, with nearly all of them giving the wrong answer
    • Participants conformed only on the trials where the group answer was obviously correct, and never on the harder trials
    • Participants conformed on about a third of critical trials, with roughly three-quarters conforming at least once
    • Participants almost never conformed and gave their own answer on every trial, even when the whole group disagreed

  7. Asch found that conformity rose as the number of confederates increased to around three or four. What is the main conclusion from this?

    • Each extra confederate causes the same large increase in conformity
    • After a small number of people, adding more confederates adds little extra conformity
    • Conformity is unaffected by how many confederates are present
    • Conformity is only affected by the number of confederates when they are experts

  8. In Asch's research, what happened to conformity when one confederate gave the correct answer?

    • Conformity was unchanged because the majority still held the answer
    • Conformity increased because the dissenter was seen as foolish
    • Conformity only dropped when the dissenter was a group leader
    • Conformity dropped sharply, showing that a dissenting view reduces pressure

  9. Which variable from Asch's research shows that conformity is more likely when the task is harder?

    • Locus of control
    • Task difficulty
    • Group size
    • Group unanimity

  10. A participant is asked to estimate the number of sweets in a jar. Other people give much higher estimates, and the participant changes their answer to match. Which explanation best accounts for this?

    • Minority influence, because the participant is being persuaded by a consistent minority
    • Informational social influence, because the participant is uncertain and uses others' answers as evidence
    • Normative social influence, because the participant wants to avoid being the odd one out
    • Obedience, because the other people are in an authority position

  11. A participant changes their answer in a group task to fit in with the majority, even though they think their own answer is correct. Which explanation best accounts for this?

    • Normative social influence, because the change is driven by the wish to be accepted
    • Authoritarian personality, because the participant prefers rigid rules
    • Informational social influence, because the majority must know the correct answer
    • Agentic state, because the participant sees the group as a legitimate authority

  12. In a lab study, participants give the same answer as a unanimous group on an ambiguous task. The researcher then makes the task very clear. What would most likely happen to conformity?

    • Conformity would rise because the clear task increases the power of normative influence
    • Conformity would rise because participants would feel more confident in the group
    • Conformity would stay the same because the group still gives the same answer
    • Conformity would fall because participants would rely less on the group for information

  13. Which combination correctly links an explanation for conformity with its typical outcome?

    • Normative social influence with internalisation; informational social influence with compliance
    • Normative social influence with compliance; informational social influence with internalisation
    • Normative social influence with obedience; informational social influence with minority influence
    • Normative social influence with minority influence; informational social influence with obedience

  14. Asch's study tested a particular set of variables. Which combination is correct?

    • Group size, legitimacy and locus of control
    • Task difficulty, consistency and commitment
    • Unanimity, proximity and uniform
    • Group size, unanimity and task difficulty

  15. A researcher argues that Asch's findings show normative social influence rather than informational influence. Which result would best support this view?

    • Conformity remains high on very clear tasks when participants have no reason to doubt their own judgement
    • Conformity is higher when the group gives answers the participant has already been told are wrong
    • Conformity is higher when participants are given a private chance to check the answer
    • Conformity falls sharply when the task is very clear and the answers are obvious

  16. Which feature of an explanation for conformity would best explain why people sometimes change their public behaviour without changing their private belief?

    • Normative social influence, since the desire to be accepted can produce public change without private change
    • Locus of control, since internal people are more easily influenced by the group and so change their private beliefs as well
    • Authoritarian personality, since people with a rigid personality conform to strict rules and so the change is always lasting
    • Informational social influence, since people accept group information as correct and so produce public change without any private change

  17. A participant in Asch's study gives the group's wrong answer on most trials. What is the most accurate evaluation of Asch's conclusions for this participant?

    • The result proves that all people always conform to groups whenever there is pressure
    • The result only applies to the lab task and the group, so generalising to all social situations is limited
    • The result shows that the participant has a rigid personality that cannot be changed
    • The result shows that the participant obeyed an authority figure in the room

  18. In an evaluation of Asch's research, which criticism is most accurate?

    • The research was a case study of one individual who conformed to the group
    • The task was too easy, so participants never had to think about their answers
    • The research used only women, so it cannot show any conformity effects
    • The task was artificial and lacked the everyday importance that real social decisions have

  19. A psychologist claims that informational social influence is stronger when a situation is ambiguous. Which result would best support this claim?

    • Conformity increases when a task is made harder, so participants are less certain and rely more on the group
    • Conformity decreases when a task is made harder, so participants trust their own answers
    • Conformity is only seen when the group gives the wrong answer on a hard task
    • Conformity is the same on easy and hard tasks, showing that uncertainty has no effect

  20. A study finds that conformity is higher when participants answer in front of a group than when they answer privately. Which conclusion is best supported?

    • Public response increases normative influence, because participants want to be accepted by the group
    • Private response shows that participants have internalised the group's view
    • Private response increases informational influence, because participants lose confidence
    • Public response shows that participants are obeying a legitimate authority

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