Conformity Exam Questions
Q1.
Outline informational social influence as an explanation for conformity. (Total 3 marks)
Q2.
Briefly outline three findings from Asch’s research into conformity.
(Total 3 marks)
Q3.
Explain one limitation of Asch’s research into conformity.
(Total 3 marks)
Q4.
Describe the procedure of Zimbardo’s research into social roles.
(Total 6 marks)
Q5.
Explain one limitation of Zimbardo’s research into social roles.
(Total 3 marks)
Q6.
Describe how Zimbardo investigated conformity to social roles.
(Total 4 marks)
Q7.
Which one of the following is most associated with informational social influence?
Shade one box only.
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A |
It is an emotional, rather than cognitive, process. |
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B |
It is based on a desire to be liked, rather than a desire to be right. |
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C |
It is more likely to lead to a permanent, rather than temporary, change in attitude. |
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D |
It occurs in unambiguous situations, rather than those where there is no obvious answer. |
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(Total 1 mark)
Q8.
Researchers have identified different features of science, including:
• replicability
• theory construction
• hypothesis testing.
Explain how Asch’s conformity research illustrates one of these features of science.
(Total 3 marks)
Q9.
Briefly outline how two variables investigated by Asch were found to affect conformity.
(Total 2 marks)
Q10.
Describe and evaluate the procedure of Zimbardo’s research into social roles.
(Total 8 marks)
Q11.
Psychologists investigating social influence have discovered several reasons why people conform.
Discuss what psychological research has told us about why people conform.
(Total 16 marks)
Q12.
Select the phrase that best describes internalisation.
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A |
The individual adopts a role as a member of a group |
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B |
The individual changes his/her beliefs but it is a temporary change |
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C |
The individual changes his/her public and private beliefs |
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D |
The individual goes along with the group but does not agree with them |
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(Total 1 mark)
Q13.
Briefly outline and evaluate normative social influence as an explanation for conformity.
(Total 4 marks)
Q14.
Outline Asch’s findings in relation to two variables affecting conformity.
Briefly explain two limitations of Asch’s conformity research.
(Total 8 marks)
Q15.
Which two of the following are types of conformity?
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A |
Agentic state |
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B |
Compliance |
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C |
Group size |
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D |
Identification |
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E |
Unanimity |
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(Total 2 marks)
Q16.
Which two of the following statements about Zimbardo's prison study are correct?
The study showed how…
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A |
roles affect behaviour. |
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B |
people obey authority. |
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C |
unanimity affects behaviour. |
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D |
people conform to the majority. |
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E |
behaviour is influenced by loss of identity. |
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(Total 2 marks)
Q17.
Many people have criticised Zimbardo’s prison study.
Identify and briefly discuss two reasons why people have criticised Zimbardo’s prison study.
(Total 6 marks)
Q18.
Identify three variables affecting conformity and outline how each of these was investigated in Asch’s experiment.
(Total 6 marks)
Q19.
Studies of conformity are sometimes criticised for being unethical. Briefly explain two ways in which psychologists might address ethical issues in social influence research.
(Total 4 marks)
Q20.
Read the item and then answer the question that follows.
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A small group of environmentally-aware sixth form students are campaigning for their school to become ‘paper-free’ for the next six months. Recently, they had a meeting with a group of teachers who represent the teaching staff. The teachers told the students that the school could become ‘paper-free’ if the group of students could convince the rest of the student body it was a good idea. |
Use your knowledge of conformity and minority influence to explain the factors that will determine how successful the small group of students will be.
(Total 7 marks)
Q21.
Outline the procedures and findings of Zimbardo's research into conformity to social roles.
(Total 4 marks)
Q22.
Briefly discuss two criticisms of Zimbardo's research into conformity to social roles.
(Total 4 marks)
Q23.
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Steph and Jeff are student teachers who recently joined other members of staff on a one-day strike. When asked why they decided to do so, Steph replied, ‘I never thought I would strike but I listened to the other teachers’ arguments and now I have become quite passionate about it’. Jeff’s explanation was different: ‘To be honest, everyone else seemed to be striking and I didn’t want to be the only one who wasn’t’. |
Discuss explanations for conformity. Refer to Steph and Jeff as part of your discussion.
(Total 16 marks)
Q24.
Explain what is meant by internalisation.
(Total 3 marks)
Q25.
Explain what is meant by compliance.
(Total 3 marks)
Q26.
(a) One type of conformity is compliance. What do psychologists mean by the term compliance? (1 mark)
(b) A group of students has to decide what to do with the money left over in their school fund. Most of them want to give the money to a local charity. However, two students, Lisa and Sean, want to buy a pool table for the common room.
Briefly explain how two factors might affect whether or not Lisa and Sean will conform to the rest of the group. (4 marks
(Total 5 marks)
Q27.
Discuss research into conformity.
(Total 8 marks)
Q28.
Outline and evaluate research into conformity.
(Total 16 marks)
Q29.
Discuss at least two factors that have been shown to affect conformity. Refer to evidence in your answer.
(Total 16 marks)
Q30.
Josie, Hana and Caitlyn have just started new jobs and all three are keen to do well. Josie laughs a lot at the jokes her colleagues tell, even though she does not always find them very funny. Hana observes her colleagues closely and makes sure that she completes the work in the same way that they do, so that she does not make any mistakes. Caitlyn prefers to learn through trial and error. She believes that by trying and by making mistakes, she will really understand what she is doing.
Which girl’s behaviour is being influenced by normative social influence and which girl’s behaviour is being influenced by informational social influence? Justify both choices.
(Total 6 marks)
Q31.
(a) What is meant by normative social influence? (2 marks)
(b) Andrea has recently started a new job and on her first day at work she noticed that all her colleagues were much more smartly dressed than she was.
Explain the likely effect of normative social influence on Andrea’s behaviour. (2 marks)
(Total 4 marks)
Q32.
Jan and Norah have just finished their first year at university where they lived in a house with six other students. All the other students were very health conscious and ate only organic food. Jan had listened to their point of view and now she also eats only organic food. Norah was happy to eat organic food while in the house, but when she went home for the holidays she ate whatever her mother cooked. Both girls conformed, but for different reasons.
Explain which type of conformity each girl was showing.
(Total 4 marks)
Q33.
Explain what is meant by informational social influence. (Total 3 marks)
Q34.
Explain what is meant by normative social influence. (Total 3 marks)
Q35.
The following phrases refer to different types of conformity.
Select the two phrases that describe internalisation. Tick two boxes only.
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A |
The deepest level of conformity. |
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B |
The individual conforms publicly with the rest of the group but may privately disagree with them. |
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C |
The beliefs of the group become part of the individual’s own belief system. |
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D |
The individual goes along with the group but does not agree with them. |
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E |
The individual changes his / her beliefs, but it is a temporary change. |
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(Total 2 marks)
Q36.
Outline and evaluate explanations of conformity. (Total 8 marks)
Q37.
Explain what is meant by internalisation in the context of conformity. (Total 2 marks)
Q38.
Explain what is meant by compliance in the context of conformity. (Total 2 marks)
Q39.
Most research into conformity takes place in a laboratory. Outline one strength of conducting research into conformity in a laboratory. (Total 2 marks)
Q40.
It is Ani’s first day in a new job and he spends a lot of time watching to see what his colleagues are doing, so that he will fit in with them and be liked.
Explain Ani’s behaviour in terms of compliance. (Total 2 marks)
Q41.
(a) Outline one method that psychologists have used to study conformity. (2 marks)
(b) Explain one limitation of this method. (2 marks)
(c) Suggest an appropriate way of overcoming this limitation. (2 marks)
(Total 6 marks)
Q42.
The following statements are all related to conformity.
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A |
Doing what the group does in order to be liked by them. |
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B |
Doing what the group does because we do not know what else to do. |
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C |
Going along with the group, even if we do not really agree with what they are doing. |
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D |
Going along with the group because we accept their beliefs and attitudes into our own cognitions. |
In the table below, write which statement, A, B, C or D, describes each type of conformity.
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Type of conformity |
Statement |
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Internalisation |
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Compliance |
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(Total 2 marks)