Burger (2009) Flashcards
What was a key finding regarding proximity in Milgram’s variation studies?
Low proximity decreases obedience
Sedikides and Jackson (1990) found that guests at the Bronx zoo were less likely to obey a distant authority figure.
What does the ordinary man study demonstrate about authority?
Decreased authority leads to decreased obedience
Sedikides and Jackson’s study showed that uniformed authority figures elicited more obedience than those in casual clothing.
What were the aims of Burger’s 2009 study?
- To investigate differences in obedience levels compared to Milgram
- To investigate if personality factors such as empathy and desire for control affect obedience
What was the age range / gender of participants in Burger’s study?
20-81 years old / 29 men and 41 women
What screening was done for Burger’s participants?
Excluded those with knowledge of Milgram’s study and individuals who might find the study distressing
This screening was conducted through interviews by a clinical psychologist.
What does empathic concern measure?
Tendency to feel sympathy for others
What was the role of participants in Burger’s experiment?
Always the teacher delivering shocks
What were participants told about their ability to leave the experiment?
They could leave at any point
What was the percentage of participants who stopped at 150V in Burger’s study?
30%
How did obedience rates in Burger’s study compare to Milgram’s?
Lower in Burger’s study (70% continued) compared to Milgram’s (82.5%)
What personality factor was slightly higher in participants who refused to continue in Burger’s study?
Desire for control
What ethical consideration did Burger implement compared to Milgram?
Stopped the study at 150V
What was one issue identified in Burger’s study regarding its applicability?
Findings may not apply to real-world obedience situations
True or False: Burger’s study had a higher stress level for participants than Milgram’s.
False
What does the ethical guideline of confidentiality entail?
Participants’ identities must be kept anonymous
What does the right to withdraw mean in research ethics?
Participants can leave the study at any time without penalty
What is one strength of Burger’s study regarding generalizability?
High population validity due to diverse sample
What was one limitation of Burger’s study regarding participant selection?
Excluded vulnerable participants, reducing generalizability
What was a key conclusion from Burger’s findings?
Obedience is not era-bound or male-bound
Fill in the blank: The findings of Burger’s study suggest that a lack of _______ is not the reason people follow orders to harm others.
empathy
What was one ethical improvement Burger made over Milgram’s experiment?
Participants were told they could withdraw multiple times
Describe one strength of Burger’s controlled procedure.
Results can be compared to Milgram’s, showing consistency in obedience rates
What did the experimenter inform participants about their ability to withdraw?
Participants were told at least three times that they could withdraw and still get payment.
What voltage was used for the sample shock in the study?
15V sample shock instead of 45V.
What action was taken to ensure participants were informed about the experiment’s safety?
Participants were told immediately that there were no shocks and the ‘learner/victim’ was shown to demonstrate that no harm had been done.
What was the professional qualification of the experimenter?
The experimenter was a clinical psychologist.
Under what condition was the study to be terminated?
The study was to be ended if any ‘excessive stress’ was seen.
What percentage of the sample was excluded based on mental health screening?
38% sample excluded based on mental health/anxiety/drug dependency.
What ethical code did the study adhere to?
BPS Code of Conduct.
How did the study protect participants while exploring obedience?
It adhered to ethical guidelines and ensured participants could withdraw.
What was a strength of Burger’s study in the context of ethical research?
It researched obedience without violating ethical guidelines.
