Kohlberg And Milgram Questions

Question 1

Milgram describe the main features of study in lab environment

Answer 1

1. Controlled conditions - use of lab to observe in Yale uni set up of two rooms
2. Standardised procedures - prompts, equipment and responses from learner at various shock levels
3. Control of variables - recording data

Question 2

Kohlbergs 3 moral levels

Answer 2

1. Preconvential level
2. Conventional
3. Post conventional

Question 3

How researcher bias might impact validity of kohlbergs study

Answer 3

1. Research methodology - impacts of researcher in terms of apparatus chosen to measure morality
2. Alpha/beta bias- kohlbergs own cultural values impact on his perception of the participants responses where he overestimates or underestimates differences in morality
3. Causation of social desirability- researcher might influence the responses of the boys he is studying, not only by design but through procedures eg. Some ppts given more encouragement than others

Question 4

Briefly describe two features of methodology in kohlbergs study

Answer 4

Longitudinal in nature
In depth investigation of phenomenon
Holistic study by one or more methodologies

Question 5

Identify methodology used by kohlberg

Answer 5

Longitudinal study

Question 6

Suggest a reason kohlberg chose boys from early adolescence than girls in his research

Answer 6

1. Males were chosen so less variation in hormones that might affect results compared to females in adolescence - menstrual cycles causes imbalances in hormones which could affect morals
2. Choosing only one gender to study removes some individual differences that might arise if chosen to study both sexes.
   Assumed that boys have been raised in similar ways to other boys but differences in socialisation of males and females could create differences in morals

Question 7

Evaluate issue of validity and ethics raised by Milgram

Answer 7

Validity
1. Obedience task carried out in his study isn’t typical of obedience in everyday life, it is more typical of extreme obedience situations like genocide
2. Sample in original study is 40 males so these results may not be applicable to females
3. Sample had variety of ages, occupations and educational backgrounds so only representative of males in one area
4. Milgrams family experiences may have led to researcher bias in his intreptations of behaviours

Question 8

Issues of ethics raised with milgrams study

Answer 8

1. Deception, Milgram told participants researxh was about memory and learning, the use of confederate, lack of actual electric shocks and use of pre recorded responses from teacher
2. Risk of stress humiliation anxiety- signs of extreme tension were observed, participants were observed to sweat, stutter, bite their lips, dig fingernails into flesh
3. Risk of participant values and beliefs - teachers may have left this research with negative opinions on their own abilities and led to long term impact on beliefs and values