Burgers 2009 (Contemporary study) - modern ver. of Milgram

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

• to replicate Milgram in an ethical way and investigate if there is a difference in the levels of obedience between baseline 5 study in 1963 and this study on 2009
• to investigate if personality influences obedience or if it purely influences by situational factors
• to investigate if observing someone refuse to obey influences obedience

Question 2

Sample (screening)

Answer 2

taken 2+ psychology class = excluded, checked psychology well being, current meds and substance abuse therapy

29 men and 41 women (20-81 yrs old)

Question 3

base condition procedure

Answer 3

replication of Milgram’s exp 5 (baseline for variation)

40 people in this one

Question 4

modelled refusal condition

Answer 4

same as base but confederate was teacher and P was teacher 2, teacher 1 refuse at 90V and real p took over

30 people in this one

Question 5

how was it more ethical?

Answer 5

• P’s were screened to check emotionally able to cope with the experiment
• told at least 3 times of RTW
• sample shock = 15V (not 45V) to protect from harm
• experiment was a clinical physiologist and so addressed issues of competence
• test terminated at 150V as continuing means its most likely (80% to go to 450V) means “point of no return”

Question 6

What about the generators, + any changes?

Answer 6

• 450V max like milldam
• trials terminated at 150v + analysed data of Milgram and concluded that 150V = “no point of no return” for 65% who did go to 450V (estimated at 79% to go
  all the way)

Question 7

RESULTS (base)

Answer 7

burger:
(150V = stop) = 30% (12/40) disobedient
(past 150V) = 70% (28/40) obedient

Milgram:
(150V = stop) = 17.5% (7/40)
(past 150V) = 82.5% (33/40)

= the difference isn’t significant enough to make a change + hasn’t change through time

Question 8

RESULTS (model)

Answer 8

burger:
(150V = stop) = 36.7% (11/40) disobedient
(past 150V) = 63.3% (19/40) obedient

Question 9

REULTS (gender)

Answer 9

burger
base men = 33% (150V max)
women = 27% (150V max)

men 68% (150V+)
women 73% (150V+)

model men = 46% (150V max)
women = 32% (150V max)
men = 55% (150V+)
women = 68% (150V+)

Question 10

CONC.

Answer 10

• cultural changes over time haven’t changed
• same situational factors apply
• RTW = no impact
• no gender differences but women shown more moral strain (basically showed more emotion)