Milgram Flashcards
- Milgram’s study has been criticised for being low in ecological validity.
a) Outline one argument demonstrating that it was low in ecological validity. (2)
b) Outline one argument demonstrating that it was high in ecological validity. (2)
One argument demonstrating that the study was low in ecological validity was that…
• The shocking of another human could be argued to be low in mundane realism, that is the extent to which the task was a normal, everyday activity the Ps might find themselves engaged in.
• Critics question the value of research carried out in high controlled lab situations where Ps are aware they are taking part in an experiment. In addition, it could be argued that the social situation created in a lab is unique, telling us nothing about human behaviour in everyday life.
One argument demonstrating that the study was high in ecological validity was that…
• Milgram argues that a laboratory is similar to any social situation where there is a legitimate authority figure. Thus claiming that the study has EV and can be generalised to everyday situations
• The ecological validity was high in terms of experimental realism. The tension shown by the participants reveals a high level of experimental realism
- Identify four aspects of milgram’s study that encouraged the participants to behave in a highly obedient way. (4)
Four aspects of the study that encouraged the participants to behave in a highly obedient way were:
Any four from the list of 13 possible explanations which are most closely related the aspects of the study:
• The location of the study at a prestigious university provided authority
• The prods used conveyed that they could not withdraw
• The sense of obligation has been reinforced because the subject has been paid (though he was told that they could leave)
• Subjects assumes that the learner has voluntarily consented to taking part
- a) Describe one ethical issue raised in Milgram’s study. (2)
b) Describe what steps Milgram took to deal with this ethical issue. (2)
One ethical issue that was raised in Milgram’s study was…
• Deception: Ps deceived about the true purpose of the experiment and made to believe they were administering real electric shocks to naive subject
• Withdrawal from investigation: there is a debate whether Ps were able to withdraw from the study. Despite telling them that the money paid to them was theirs to keep regardless pf the outcome of the study, the prods given by the experimenter suggested that withdrawal
• Protection of Ps: many Ps suffered from considerable stress. Many subjects showed nervousness and a large number showed extreme tension, ‘subjects were observed to sweat, tremble, stutter, bite their lips, groan and dig their finger-nails into their flesh’. Fourteen displayed nervous laughter which seemed bizarre and three had ‘full-blown uncontrollable seizures’.
• All subjects were interviewed after the experiment and were asked various open-ended questions. They were also given some psychological tests. After this, procedures were undertaken to ensure that the subject would leave the laboratory in a state of well-being. A friendly reconciliation with the learner was arranged.
- In milgram’s study the Ps showed signs of stress.
a) Give one example of the stress shown by participants. (2)
b) Explain why the Ps may have been stressed. (2)
One example of the stress shown by participants was that the participant…
• showed nervousness and a large number showed extreme tension
• subjects were observed to sweat, tremble, stutter, bite their lips, groan and dig their finger-nails into their flesh
• fourteen nervous laughter which seemed bizarre
• three had ‘full-blown uncontrollable seizures
• The Ps may have been stressed because they have been deceived into thinking that they were inflicting pain/harm by administering real electric shocks to the learner. This is because prior to the start of the experiment the Ps saw the learner being strapped to the electric chair and had been given an electric shock themselves in order to for them to think that they were administering real shocks.
5 a) Describe how Milgram measured obedience. (2)
Suggest two factors that would explain why subjects were so obedient in Milgram’s study. (2)
• Each subject was scored between 0 and 30 depending on when they terminated the experiment. An obedient subject was one who administered all the shock levels i.e. scored 30.
b)
Two factors that would explain why subjects were so obedient are…
• Any 2 of the 13 explanations offered as to why subjects obeyed.
- Outline two pieces of evidence from Milgram’s study that showed that the participants believed that the shocks were real. (4)
Two pieces of evidence from the study of Milgram that showed that the Ps believed that the shocks were real were one…
• The tension showed by the participants demonstrates that the participants believed that the shocks were real. Many participants showed nervousness and large number showed extreme tension. Participants were observed to sweat, tremble, bite their lips, groan and dig their finger nails into their flesh.
• In the post experimental briefing they were asked to indicate how painful the shocks had been for the learner. The modal response was extremely painful.
- Some people regard Milgram’s study as being controversial.
a) Give one reason why the results of Milgram’s study might be judged as controversial. (2)
b) Outline Milgram’s reason for doing this research. (2)
- One reason why the results of Milgram’s study might be judged as controversial is because the results support the situational hypothesis that obedient behaviour is a result of the situation people find themselves in and not due to dispositional factors. The situational hypothesis could be used to excuse immoral behaviour of people and rules out the role of freewill in human behaviour.
- Milgram’s reason for doing this research is that he wanted to find support for his theory that human behaviour such as obedience is a result of the situation people find themselves in not because of an individual’s disposition. In addition he also wanted to test the German’s are different hypothesis and make the Asch study more relevant to everyday behaviour.
