Editing Asch conformity experiments (section)

=== Rationale ===
Many early studies in social psychology were adaptations of earlier work on "suggestibility" whereby researchers such as [[Edward Thorndike|Edward L. Thorndyke]] were able to shift the preferences of adult subjects towards majority or expert opinion.<ref name="Asch1955" /> Still the question remained as to whether subject opinions were actually able to be changed, or if such experiments were simply documenting a [[Hawthorne effect]] in which participants simply gave researchers the answers they wanted to hear. [[Solomon Asch]]'s experiments on group conformity mark a departure from these earlier studies by removing investigator influence from experimental conditions.

In 1951, Asch conducted his first conformity laboratory experiments at [[Swarthmore College]], laying the foundation for his remaining conformity studies. The experiment was published on two occasions.<ref name="Asch1951" /><ref name="Asch1952a">Asch, S. E. (1952a). Effects of group pressure on the modification and distortion of judgments. In G. E. Swanson, T. M. Newcomb & E. L. Hartley (Eds.), ''Readings in social psychology'' (2nd ed., pp. 2–11). New York: Holt.</ref>