7. Conformity To Social Roles: Zimbardo's Research AO3

Question 1

Name a strength of Zimbardo’s research

Answer 1

Some control over variables - emotionally stable participants recruited - randomly assigned roles

Question 2

What is good about the roles being randomly allocated?

Answer 2

Guards and prisoners had roles by chance - behaviour was due to pressure of situation not personalities

Question 3

Why is having control over variables a strength?

Answer 3

Increases study’s internal validity - can be more confident drawing conclusions about influences of social roles on behaviour

Question 4

Name a limitation of Zimbardo’s research

Answer 4

Major ethical issues - Zimbardo was lead researcher AND prison superintendent

Question 5

Why is zimbardo playing two roles an issue? Give an example

Answer 5

Limited Zimbardo’s ability to protect participants from harm - his two roles conflicted.

E.g. A student who wanted to leave spoke to Zimbardo - responded as superintendent worried about running of prison not a researcher