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fandomhigh2005-11-29 03:39 pm
romanywitch) wrote in fandomhigh2005-11-29 03:39 pm
Entry tags:
Abnormal Psychology (Tuesday, 11/29/2005, 1:00 p.m.)
OOC: I have just started grading. For the sake of my sanity, this post is now CLOSED. A new psych post for Thursday's class will be going up shortly.
Jenny is sitting at the desk, laptop in front of her and sign-in sheet in front of the desk.
"Okay, guys, sign in, sit down, and take a look. Since your 100 word proposal was due today, I expect you guys aren't going to have any problems using them in the discussion. Be sure to let me know who you're partnered up with when you turn in your proposal." She gestures over at a series of bins. "Make-up homework goesin the OCD threads I'll be creating shortly there, guys."
On a projection screen in the front of the classroom is this image.
"Read through your handout on the Asch Conformity Experiment and the scientific method, and then start talking about a few things:
"First, how well does your experiment proposal translate into a hypothesis? Jack, Paige, your initial proposal included a hypothesis, so you're both a step ahead of the game. If it translates well, tell me why. If it doesn't, tell me why not." ETA: This goes in the Scientific Method discussion thread.
"Second, what's your prediction of the results of your experiments, guys?" ETA: This goes in the Scientific Method discussion thread.
"Third, check out the study in the handout. What do you think you would have done in the situation? Be honest with me. Not everyone here is a rugged nonconformist. And whatever answer you would have given? Tell me why in a 100 word essay. Turn it inin the right comment thread where the homework bin is or you won't get credit for it." ETA: Any discussion on this experiment goes in the Asch Conformity Experiment discussion thread. Your essay goes in the Current Homework thread.
"Now, I'mcreating an additional comment thread sending out an e-mail to the class list for group discussion. This is partly for those of you that are going to be missing a class due to a scheduling conflict. This isn't intended for those of you who should be here to make up something--unless you come see me about getting an excused absence. Anyone who wants to earn some extra-credit, though, it'd be nice if you guys could do some discussion with the ones that are going to miss being in the class. Right? Any questions? I'll also be holding regular office hours. You can always turn in missing homework in my office if you'd rather."
"And guys?" Jenny looks over the class. "Don't make me hand out detentions for missing proposals. You've had two weeks to find a partner and come up with an idea and 100 words to explain it. Get them in to me by the end of class."
The Scientific Method
1. Observation and description of a phenomenon or group of phenomena.
2. Formulation of an hypothesis to explain the phenomena.
3. Use of the hypothesis to predict the existence of other phenomena, or to predict quantitatively the results of new observations.
4. Performance of experimental tests of the predictions by several independent experimenters and properly performed experiments.
OOC: Those with IC schedule conflicts (so far, the only ones I'm aware of are Callisto on Thursdays and Jessica on Tuesdays and Thursdays) and excused absences can post in the comment labeled 'e-mail' and it will count towards their attendance/participation grade. Please see me in Jenny's office hours--preferably with an IC note from the clinic--to get an excused absence.
Useful Links:
Jenny's Voice Mail
Jenny's E-Mail
Jenny is sitting at the desk, laptop in front of her and sign-in sheet in front of the desk.
"Okay, guys, sign in, sit down, and take a look. Since your 100 word proposal was due today, I expect you guys aren't going to have any problems using them in the discussion. Be sure to let me know who you're partnered up with when you turn in your proposal." She gestures over at a series of bins. "Make-up homework goes
On a projection screen in the front of the classroom is this image.
"Read through your handout on the Asch Conformity Experiment and the scientific method, and then start talking about a few things:
"First, how well does your experiment proposal translate into a hypothesis? Jack, Paige, your initial proposal included a hypothesis, so you're both a step ahead of the game. If it translates well, tell me why. If it doesn't, tell me why not." ETA: This goes in the Scientific Method discussion thread.
"Second, what's your prediction of the results of your experiments, guys?" ETA: This goes in the Scientific Method discussion thread.
"Third, check out the study in the handout. What do you think you would have done in the situation? Be honest with me. Not everyone here is a rugged nonconformist. And whatever answer you would have given? Tell me why in a 100 word essay. Turn it in
"Now, I'm
"And guys?" Jenny looks over the class. "Don't make me hand out detentions for missing proposals. You've had two weeks to find a partner and come up with an idea and 100 words to explain it. Get them in to me by the end of class."
The Scientific Method
1. Observation and description of a phenomenon or group of phenomena.
2. Formulation of an hypothesis to explain the phenomena.
3. Use of the hypothesis to predict the existence of other phenomena, or to predict quantitatively the results of new observations.
4. Performance of experimental tests of the predictions by several independent experimenters and properly performed experiments.
OOC: Those with IC schedule conflicts (so far, the only ones I'm aware of are Callisto on Thursdays and Jessica on Tuesdays and Thursdays) and excused absences can post in the comment labeled 'e-mail' and it will count towards their attendance/participation grade. Please see me in Jenny's office hours--preferably with an IC note from the clinic--to get an excused absence.
Useful Links:
Jenny's Voice Mail
Jenny's E-Mail
Re: CURRENT HOMEWORK - ESSAY ON ASCH CONFORMITY EXPERIMENT
Solomon Asch consucted a series of experiments on perception and conformity. He asked students to participate in what he termed a “vision test”. All but one student, the real subject, were ringers.
The students were all seated in a classroom where they saw several lines of various lengths on displays. They were asked which line was longer than the other, which were the same length, etc. The ringers gave the incorrect answers that Asch had told them to use.
Many subjects showed extreme discomfort, but 33% conformed to the majority opinion, even when it was grossly inaccurate. Control subjects in private had no problem giving correct answers.
Asch used this as part of his formulation of the peer pressure theory.
Three subtypes of conformity are: compliance: conforming public but keeping private beliefs; identification: conforming publicly and privately only until leaving the group; internalization: conforming publicly and privately before and after leaving the group (Herbert Kelman).
Asch described the results as follows: "The tendency to conformity in our society is so strong that reasonably intelligent and well-meaning young people are willing to call white black. This is a matter of concern. It raises questions about our ways of education and about the values that guide our conduct."
In post experiment interviews, most subjects said that they privately believed otherwise but went along with the majority opinion to avoid stigma. Some thought that the majority was correct, either because they believed that their own judgement was suspect or because under peer pressure they actually saw the incorrect answer as correct.
In a written version, where subjects wrote their answers after hearing the opinions of others, conformity went down 33% from the original results.
When Asch varied the size of the majority, from one to 15, he found that numbers of 3 or more garnered similar results. When, however, he added a dissenting ally giving correct answers, conformity went down 75% from the original results. Several things could contribute to this result. The majority did not ridicule either dissenter. The dissenter reinforced the perceptions of the subject. The subject now had peer pressure from the dissenter as well as the majority. Some subjects later reported wanting to be like the dissenter. People find being in a minority of two easier than being in a minority of one.
Asch concluded that it is difficult to maintain your individual perception when no one agrees. The group pressure implied by the expressed opinion of other people can lead to modification and distortion of personal perceptions.