Milgram

Question 1

What is the APFC for Milgram’s study?

Answer 1

Milgram (1953)
Milgram’s Aim- To investigate the extent at which we’ll obey an authority figure, even if it means causing harm to others
Milgram’s study was conducted in 1953. Sampling Method, Volunteer sample via newspaper advertisement.
Sample- 40 White Males 20-50 years of age of a variety of skilled backgrounds , Newhaven.
Experiment took place in Yale university as it is a prestigious location and there was a sense of legitimacy and prestige. The experimenter was dressed in a lab uniform which amplified their authority.
IV-Situation (Proximity, Location, Legitimacy of authority)
DV- Level of voltage/Electric shock (Level of shocks ranged from 15 volts up to 450 volts) increasing by 15 Volts
Type of sample-Volunteer, recruited people from newspaper
Method
Confederate’s role was a learner

Straw drawing was rigged so the participant would always be selected as the teacher

The teacher would be told that they would have to electrically shock the learner whenever they got an answer wrong to a word matching question. 
Shocked learner in different room and wall served as buffer

The participant believed the task was an experiment to test the role of punishment in learning. Participant was deceived. The participant believed the experiment word-recall test and they would electrically shock the learner/confederate for every answer they got wrong, the confederate would intentionally answer question wrong.

The experimenter used prods , “The experiment requires you to continue”, “there’ll be no lasting damage” , “it is imperative that you continue”

Results  All participants delivered shocks up to 300 Volts 
 65% of participants went up to 450 volts 
 
Conclusion
 
Normal people in particular circumstances will obey an authority figure even if it means causing harm to others

Milgram’s Conclusion supports his agency theory and idea of moral strain

Question 2

What are Milgram’s 3 variations?

Answer 2

Milgram’s Three Variations
Original IV- Tested extent of harmful obedience when ordered to do something by an authority figure , this later became the DV in these 3 experiments
IV RESULTS
Telephonic Instructions- IV- the proximity between the experimenter and the participants.
Obedience dropped to 20.5% EXP-7 reduced proximity
Location- IV- Location of the experiment
When location was Bridgeport town, run down office and research conducted for private company instead of Yale, obedience dropped to 47.5% EXP-10
Uniform- IV- Clothes, the uniform the experimenter was wearing
When uniform was casual instead of a lab-coat , obedience dropped to 20% EXP-13

Question 3

Evaluate Milgram’s study

Answer 3

Milgram’s study
Sample 40 American, male Participants Androcentric- results around harmful obedience cannot be applied to women
Method 1 Controlled environment * Controlled environment leads to less extraneous variables which leads to a higher internal validity.
*Low ecological validity due to artificial environment and laboratory setting can’t apply to real world

Method 2 Study was conducted again 18 times and similar results were found The study was replicable and reliable as similar results were found
Conclusion People would harm someone if ordered to do something by an authority figure Applicable to real life situations such as real-life atrocities, can be applied to real life situations such as war crimes where soldiers commit this due to being ordered
Conclusion of the evaluation The study is highly controlled and has a good methodology, however due to its high control, its external validity and applicability is limited