Burger methodology Flashcards
What type of sampling did Burger use?
Volunteer
Ppts recruited through ads in newspapers + online listing service, flyers also distributed at libraries, farmers markets, community centres, etc
What were the ppts promised in the ads?
$50 for 2 45 min sessions
How were ppts screened?
Interested individuals gave name + number to email/number listed on ads, called by research assistant, asking if theyd been to college + taken any psych classes
Ppts who took 2+ psych classes excluded
What was the purpose of the screening?
To screen out individuals familiar with milgram’s study on obedience, and anyone who may be harmed long term by study
What 6 questions were the ppts asked during the screening?
- Have you every been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder?
- Are u currently receiving psychotherapy?
- Are u currently taking medications for emotional difficulties such as anxiety or depression?
- Do u have any medical conditions that might be affected by stress?
- Have u ever had any problems with alcohol or drug use?
- Have u ever experienced serious trauma, such as child abuse, domestic violence, or combat?
How many ppts were excluded during screening?
Anyone answering yes to any of questions were excluded, approx 30% of individuals who replied to the ad were excluded
How did Burger use a similar procedure to Milgram when ppts completed the base condition?
- Used confederate to participate
- Used script taken largely from one used in Milgram’s study
- Used teacher + student = draw always rigged, ppt was teacher + comfederate was student
- Experimenter gave same prods to ppts reluctance
- Shocked confederate after every wrong answer
- Used same word pairs + answers as Milgram
How did Burger adapt the volt scale to make the study more ethical than Milgram’s?
No ppt was allowed to press anymore switches after the 150 volt switch
How was the modelled refusal procedure set up differently?
2 confederates playing roles instead of 1 + ppt
Ppt assigned role of teacher 2 + confederate had teacher 1 - Ppt had to watch actor refuse to see if they would give shocks instead
How was the disobedience in the modelled refusal condition shown to ppts?
Showed discomfort + refused to continue
What was the aim of the study?
To see whether Milgram’s findings are era-bound
Also wanted to see whether obedience is affected by gender as well as personality traits: empathic concern + desire for personal control
How did Burger adjust the procedure to make it more ethical than Milgram’s?
- 2 step screening process to exclude individuals who might have negative reaction to study
- At least 3 reminders (twice in writing) so ppts could withdraw from study at any time + still receive $50
- 15 shock volt delivered rather than 45 volt Milgram gave ppts to convince them shock generator was real
- Immediate debrief where ppts told they didnt give real shocks + they met actor to ensure he was fine
- Study run by clinical psychologist who present at all times + ended study immediately if saw any stress
How was Burger’s sample better than Milgram’s?
Included ppts with diff levels of education, more women, + higher ethnicity range
What were the results?
- Less ppts continued after 150 volts in modelled refusal compared to base condition
- More ppts stopped at 150V or earlier compared to Milgram’s = 70% compared to 82.5%, results not as diff as expected
- Less ppts continued after 150V + stopped before 150 in modelled refusal compared to Milgram
What were the personality + gender findings?
Sig difference between desire for control scores of defiant comapred to obedient
Gender + empathetic concern didnt have difference
What is the conclusion of the gender + personality findings?
Shows that having a desire for control means youre less likely to obey orders just bc uve been told to
