Explanations Of Obedience, Situatinal Variables

Question 1

Situational variables

Answer 1

Proximity, location, uniform

Question 2

Proximation

Answer 2

• refers to how close someone is
• how close authority figure is to pp to se whether it has an effect
• in Milgrams og study, the reacher and leaner were in an adjoining room, can hear but not see.
• in the proximity variation, they were in the same room - rates dropped from 64% to 40%
• TOUCH proximity, teacher had to force the learners hand onto plate, results dropped to 30%

Question 3

Location

Answer 3

• Milgram changed location of the study and conducted it in a run-down building rather than a prestigious uni, obedience levels dropped to 47.5%

Question 4

Uniform

Answer 4

• in og study, experimenter wore grey lab coat to show symbol of Authority
• Milgram did a study, where the experimenter got called away and thr job was taken on by some random in normal clothes, dropped to 20%

Question 5

Good evaluation

Answer 5

• there is research support for uniform

Bickman (1974) ,
- 3 male researchers gave instructions to 153 pedestrians in New York.
- one was in a suit, was was in a guards uniform and one was in a milkman’s outfit
- Hickman found that most likely to obey guard 80%, the rest were 40%.

Cross-cultural replications:
Have been replicated in other cultures such as Spanish and show that findings aren’t limited to Americans

Control of variables:
Proximity and locations were highly controlled

Question 6

Bad evaluation

Answer 6

• lack of internal validity, Orne and Holland criticised the study saying that the pps knew it was all Made up, showing demand characteristics
• obedience alibi, using the variables as an excuse of their behaviour.