Burger 2009

Question 1

aim

Answer 1

• to find out if the same results as Milgram’s 1963 study re-occur when the study is replicated in a more ethical way using modern ppts.
• to see if personality variables like empathy and locus of control influence obedience.
• to see if the presence of the disobedience ‘model’ makes a difference to obedience levels.

Question 2

iv

Answer 2

• main iv is the base of the condition (same as Milgram 1963), compared with the ‘model refusal’ condition
• independent groups design - compares the 2009 ppts. with the 1960s ppts. an dit also compares the control group with the disobedient model group.

Question 3

dv

Answer 3

• obedience is measured by how many volts the last shock to be delivered was - before the ppt. refused to go on, exhausted all the prods or reached 150v

Question 4

sample

Answer 4

• 70 ppts, a mixture of men and women were randomly put into two conditions
• volunteer sample recruited through newspapers and online ads and fliers left in libraries
• they were paid $50 before the study started
• aged 20-81

Question 5

procedure (1)

Answer 5

• procedure replicates Milgram’s variation 5 of his baseline study. Experimenter is a white man in his 30s, learner in his 50s
• teacher watches learner being strapped into the electric chair, and then sits at shock generator
• teacher read out 25 multiple choice questions and the learner uses the buzzer to indicate answer - wrong answer shock goes up in 15v intervals

Question 6

procedure - (2) learner’s heart condition

Answer 6

• the learner indicates he has a slight heart condition but the experimenter replies that the shocks are not harmful.
• at 75v the learner starts making sounds of pain
• at 150v the learner cries that he wants to stop and complain about chest pains
• if the teacher moves to deliver the 165v shock, the experimenter stops the experiment

Question 7

procedure - (3) model refusal condition

Answer 7

• in the model refusal condition, a second confederate pretends to be a second teacher
• this teacher delivers shocks with the naive ppt watching
• at 90v the confederate teacher turns to be naive ppt and says ‘I don’t know about this’
• he refuses to go on and the experimenter tells the naive ppt to take over delivering the shocks.

Question 8

use of questionnaires

Answer 8

• Burger used questionnaires to measure individual differences that may be factors in obedience
• interpersonal reactivity index is a 28 question test that measures empathy
• desirability of control scale is a 20 question test that measures locus of control (how important it is for you to be in control of your life events)

Question 9

ethical controls (improved on Milgram)

Answer 9

• a two step screening process to filter out anyone who might be unduly stressed by the experience
• the ppts were warned three times in writing that they could withdraw at any point and still keep the $50
• experimenter was actually a clinical psychologists
• test shock on 15v
• Burger did not allow time to pass before he interrupted the healthy learner and debriefed

Question 10

results

Answer 10

• ## 70% of ppts in the baseline condition were prepared to go past 150v, compared to 82.5% in Milgram’s variation