bickman -power of uniform

Question 1

aim

Answer 1

To see whether a person’s appearance affects obedience

Question 2

sample

Answer 2

153 pedestrians on the streets of Brooklyn, New York.

Question 3

research method/design

Answer 3

Field experiment
opportunity sample

Question 4

procedure

Answer 4

• 3 experimenters who dressed in 3 uniforms
  (a guard, a milkman and a civilian).
• In each uniform - gave one of three orders:
  (1) pick up litter, (2) stand the other side of a
  bus stop or (3) give someone £ for a parking
  meter.
• Bickman wanted to know how many people
  obeyed each researchers in each uniform by the following orders or not

Question 5

findings + conclusions

Answer 5

The higher the (perceived) status
of the uniform, the higher the obedience levels.

Question 6

limitations

Answer 6

• Sample culturally biased (unrepresentative & can’t be
  generalised).
• Field experiment so extraneous
  variables (noise etc.) an issue.