5.1 Milgram (Obedience)

Question 1

Psychology being investigated

Answer 1

destructive obedience
Testing the situational hypothesis of the environment affecting our behaviour
Obedience to following authority figures to give electric shocks

Question 2

Aim

Answer 2

To investigate the level of obedience when an authority figure orders a person to administer physical punishment to a stranger.

Question 3

What is destructive obedience?

Answer 3

obedience that has potential to cause psychological or physical harm or injury to another

Question 4

Research method and DV

Answer 4

Controlled observation
DV- max shock the participant could give before refusing to continue.

Question 5

Location, sample characteristics and sampling technique

Answer 5

40 men aged 20-50
New Haven, USA
From different backgrounds- white-collar, unskilled and professionals
volunteer sampling via a local newspaper advertisement
Paid $4.50 for participation
study took place at Yale University in a modern laboratory (to make the procedure seem legitimate)

Question 6

Verbal prods

Answer 6

Please go on / please continue
The experiment requires that you continue
It is absolutely essential that you continue
You have no other choice, you must go on

Question 7

Describe the whole procedure

Answer 7

pg.155 Cambridge
describe the perliminary and regular run
pg.150 Hodder

Question 8

How many participants administered the max 450V

Answer 8

26 out of 40

Question 9

Up till what voltage did all participants administer the voltage

Answer 9

Up till 300V all 40 out of 40 participants
after 300 V, 5 people didn’t continue

Question 10

Factors that contributed to the high level of obedience from the participants

Answer 10

legitimacy- the professional academic environment, use of a uniform
paid to participate so they felt obliged

Question 11

Ethical Issues

Answer 11

protection from harm- psychological harm was caused
deception- several times ex. believed they were giving real shocks
strength-
debriefing

Question 12

Methodological strength

Answer 12

standardised procedure
controlled observation (and lab setting)- control over extraneous variables
quantitative data was measured for the DV- objective
qualitative data- observations, reactions, comments by participants and verbal behaviour. Gives detailed and valid data.

Question 13

Methodological weaknesses

Answer 13

mundane realism
generalisability- sample no. was small and all from the same area
low ecological validity- done in a lab setting

Question 14

Real-life applications

Answer 14

In the military- for soldiers to highlight the importance of resisting orders on moral or ethical grounds
Raised awareness of the power of authority in workplaces