Milgram 1961

Question 1

What is the aim of Milgram?

Answer 1

To see if naive ppt would give a lethal electric shock to a person

Question 2

What is the Sample of Milgram and how was it gained?

Answer 2

Volunteer sample in newspaper ad of 40 males 18-50 with varying jobs

Question 3

How were they assigned to their role?

Answer 3

A rigged draw with the confederate

Question 4

Who became the learner and who became the teacher?

Answer 4

Mr Wallace was the learner and they were the teacher

Question 5

What real shock was given in this study?

Answer 5

45v

Question 6

What task did they do in this study?

Answer 6

Word pairs with Mr Wallace

Question 7

Describe the shock generator

Answer 7

15-450v, goes up in 15v each time until ‘xxx’

Question 8

What happened if they wanted to stop?

Answer 8

They were given one of the 4 prods

Question 9

What did the prods say?

Answer 9

Prod 1: Please continue. Prod 2: The experiment requires you to continue. Prod 3: It is absolutely essential that you continue. Prod 4: You have no other choice but to continue

Question 10

How were the learner, teacher and experimenter arranged?

Answer 10

The learner was behind a wall in another room and the experimenter sat behind the teacher

Question 11

What are the results of the Milgram study?

Answer 11

100% went to 300v and 65% went to 450V

Question 12

What was the conclusion of the study?

Answer 12

Authority figures can trigger people to give lethal electric shocks

Question 13

What were reasons Milgram gave for the obedience in his study?

Answer 13

1. The prestigious setting 2. The barrier (wall). 3. The gradual increase in the shocks. 4. The prods. 5. The lab coat showing authority

Question 14

What are the key points of Milgram’s procedure?

Answer 14

• Volunteer sample of 40 men from ad
  -Rigged draw with confederate
  -45v real shock
  -Shock increased by 15V when answer was wrong
  -4 prods if they tried to stop

Question 15

What is a strength and weakness of Milgram’s generalisablity?

Answer 15

(-) Shared characteristics as they volunteered or Androcentric as 40 males

(+) Variety of jobs and age range

Question 16

What can you say about the reliablity of Milgram?

Answer 16

(+) Standardised procedure e.g. shock generator and prods

Question 17

What is a strength and a weakness about Milgram’s validity?

Answer 17

(-) Low mundane realism as artificial task of delivering shocks

(+) Low Demand Characteristics as they were told the study was about learning rather than obedience

Question 18

What are ethical concerns about Milgram?

Answer 18

-Informed consent & Deception (they didn’t know the real purpose or the confederate was an actor)

-Withdrawal- the prods encouraged them to keep going

-Protection from harm (the stress/pressure of having to give the shocks)

-Debrief (wasn’t instant)