Suggest two reasons why Asch's conformity investigations could be considered to be unrealistic. [4 marks]

Answer: One reason Asch's study could be considered unrealistic is that it took place in a laboratory setting. Participants may have guessed the true aim of the investigation and altered their behaviour, a phenomenon known as demand characteristics. This means the findings may not accurately reflect how people conform in everyday situations outside the laboratory.

Another reason Asch's study could be considered unrealistic is that the task itself was highly artificial. Judging the length of lines lacks mundane realism and is not an activity people typically perform in everyday life. Therefore, Asch's research may not explain how or why individuals conform in real-life social situations, such as when someone starts smoking due to peer pressure.

Examiner Comment: For this question, students must explain why the reason given shows that Asch's research is unrealistic. They should use appropriate specialist terminology (e.g., mundane realism) and link their explanation to the key concept of conformity.