Milgram

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To measure level of obedience to an authoritative figure when asked to administer electric shocks to another individual

Question 2

Research method

Answer 2

Laboratory procedure
+ : highly controlled environment, eliminates extraneous variables, ez to replicate so reliable
- : lack of realism, difficult to set up lab procedures where ppl would behave as they would irl

Controlled observation

Question 3

Sample

Answer 3

40 male volunteers
- 20-50y, range of occupations + educational bgs
- paid $4.50 on arrival for participation

Question 4

Procedure

Answer 4

• Yale uni, each ppt met supposed ppt
• rigged draw: allocated learner/teacher roles to ppt
• learners = actors, teachers = real ppt
• teacher saw learner strapped to electricity shocking apparatus
• teacher given mild (45V) shock to prove machines = real

Question 5

Controls

Answer 5

• all ppt received same treatment + asked to administer electric shock for each X answer
• all ppts got same response from learner/experimenter in same order

Question 6

Reliability

Answer 6

• other researchers replicated study
• M tested ppts one at a time + followed standardized procedure ~ all ppts = similar experience

Question 7

Qualitative Results

Answer 7

• some ppts extreme nervous tension
• nervous laughter
• sweating
• 1 ppt = epileptic fit
• continually asking reassurance from experimenter b4 continuing

Question 8

Quantitative Results

Answer 8

• 65% 450V
• 100% 300V
• 14/40 refused to go on at various lvls after 300V

Question 9

Conclusion

Answer 9

• majority showed high obedience lvl to authority figure
• normal men obeyed to point where believed they srsly harmed fellow ppt
• power of obedience outweighed personal moral beliefs that it was wrong to injure others

Question 10

Sampling bias/Ethnocentrism

Answer 10

• all male ppts ~ X represent full section of society
• X represent/can’t be generalized across diff cultures ; all from same area in USA

Question 11

Validity

Answer 11

• Internal validity: high, controls made sure to set test out to produce truthful result
• External validity: low, lab/artificial environment, unrealistic ; not likely to hv been asked to do this in everyday life

Question 12

Practical applications/Usefulness

Answer 12

• less blame on german individuals
• gives insight to :
  > obedient behaviour
  > factors which we could alter to encourage obedience in settings, eg. schools, hospitals

Question 13

Ethics

Answer 13

• protection from harm: significant psychological harm risk ; stress –> M defended by saying no way of predicting ppts’ reactions ; results/seizures = unexpected BUT M followed up 12m later to ensure they didn’t suffer long term harm
• X fully informed consent: ; didn’t know study’s nature
• right to withdraw: reluctant ; prompts encourage them to continue ~ discouraged withdrawal
• deception: elec shocks, experimenter + learner X real