Evaluate Milgram's original study of obedience Flashcards
What are the AO1 points?
-Aim of study was to see how obedient people would be in a situation where following orders would mean causing harm to another person. Milgram advertised for volunteers, offering $4.50 to any adult male willing to take part in a study on memory, held at Yale University. Participants were met by the researcher in a smart grey lab coat and another “volunteer” known as Mr Wallace, who was the actor confederate of the researcher. It was explained that the researcher was on the effect of punishment on learning and drew lots for who was going to be the “teacher” and the “learner”, the process for which was rigged.
What are some AO3 evaluation points?
This procedure was reliable as Milgram controlled variables such as the voice of Mr Wallace, which was a recording so it would be the same tone for all participants. The study was unethical as participants were deceived in a number of ways, such as they thought that their victim was another participant and not an actor. However, Milgram sent them questionnaires later on to assess the effects and found that most people felt no remorse or guilt meaning it was ethical. The laboratory setting of the study was artificial meaning participants responded to demand characteristics rather than showing natural behaviour, which could have different results in the real world setting, questioning ecological validity.
