Evaluation of Migram's Variation

Question 1

List two strengths of Milgram’s Variations

Answer 1

• High Reliability

- High ecological Validity

Question 2

List two weaknesses of Milgram’s Variations

Answer 2

• Low population Validity

- Mundane Realism ( works for all variations and original study)

Question 3

Give one strength of Milgram’s Variations using HIGH RELIABILITY

Answer 3

• Even though the obedience levels for going to max of 450v fell from 65% to 20%-50% in the three variations, many participants were still willing to give shocks.
• This is a strength because consistent findings across the variations show that obedience is an important source of social influence in a range of different situations and environments.

Question 4

Give one strength of Milgram’s Variations using HIGH ECOLOGICAL VALIDITY,

Answer 4

• Experiment 10 was conducted in a run-down office block in Bridgeport instead of Yale University but the study still produced high levels of obedience (48% went to 450V, similar to the original 65%).
• This is a strength because it shows that high levels of obedience can occur in different environments, not just in a controlled laboratory setting at a prestigious institution.

Question 5

Give one weakness of Milgram’s Variation using LOW POPULATION VALIDITY

Answer 5

• Experiment #13 only used 20 participants instead of the 40 participants used in the original study.
• This is a weakness because we cannot be sure that the behavior of 20 people truly represents the wider population as small changes in the obedience level by just a few of those 20 people could have a large impact on the final results.

Question 6

Give one weakness of Milgrim’s Variation using MUNDANE REALISM

Answer 6

• The task of delivering shocks to learner in each variation lacked mundane realism, as it is not an everyday activity,
• We cannot be sure that people would show same levels of obedience in everyday situations