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Sherif's Autokinetic Effect Study (1935) (Procedure: (Used the…
Sherif's Autokinetic Effect Study (1935)
Aim:
Whether ppl conform to group norms when put into an ambiguous situation
Procedure:
Lab
experiment
Used the
autokinetic effect
Where a small spot of light (projected onto a screen) in a dark room will appear to move
Even though it is still
It is a visual illusion
Tested twice
Tested individually initially
Ptps estimates on how far the light moved varied considerably
Then tested in groups of three
Sherif manipulated the composition of the group
2 ppl with similar individual estimates 1 person who's estimate was very different
Each had to say aloud their estimate
Results:
Once ptps were in a group
The person who's estimate was initially v different
Gave a more similar result to the other two
Sherif said that this showed ppl would always tend to conform
Rather than make individual judgments
Tend to come to a group agreement
Conclusion:
When a person is in an ambiguous situation
Such as the autokinetic effect
A person will look to others
Who know more / better
For guidance
I.e. adopt the group norm
They want to do the right thing
But may lack the appropriate info
Observing others can provide this info
This is known as
informational social influence
Evaluation:
Strengths
Lab experiment
Strict control of variables
Extraneous variables are isolated from the study
Thus easy to establish cause and effect
Between the informational social influence from the larger majority and conformity
Repeated measures
Result was less likely to be affected by ind differences
Thus ptps conformed bc of the majority
Not bc of any differences in personality or culture
Weaknesses
Lacks realism
Experiment created an
artificial
situation
Task rarely happens irl
Ambiguous
Wasn't obvious if the light moved or not
Thus difficult to measure conformity
With the task being so ambiguous and unfamiliar
Lack cross cultural validity
Carried out in individualistic culture
USA
Findings may not be generalisable to the wider population
Decreasing
external validity