Milgram Flashcards
Why was Milgram’s study not an experiment?
The level of shocks was not an independent variable
How were participants selected?
Volenteer sampling after an advert was put in a New Haven newspaper maying $4.50 for participation in a learning and memory study
What sampling technique was used?
Volenteer sampling
How many were participants paid?
$4.50
Money didn’t depend on them completing the study
What newspaper was the advert posted in?
New Haven
How many participants were there?
20 male participants between the ages of 20 and 50 from a range of backgrounds
What was the age range of the participants?
20-50
Where did the study take place?
Yale University
What was the procedure?
Paired with learner (Mr Wallace)
Learner strapped to an electric chair
Participant taken to ajoining room and given sample shock
Every time learner was wrong, voltage was increased
How was the learner and teacher decided?
Draw slips of paper
Who was Mr Wallace?
The learner
An actor who was Milgram’s assistant
Where was the shock generator compared to the electric chair?
An ajoining room
How many switches were on the shock machine?
30
How often were shocks given?
Every 4 switches
What was the worst label on the switches?
XXX (fatal)
Why was the teacher given a sample shock?
To prove the machine was real
When was the teacher to administer a shock?
Every time the learner got a wrong awnser
What feedback did the experimenter give?
4 standard prompts eg:
Please continue
The experiment requires you continue
What is an example of a standard prompt?
The experiment requires you continue
How were the participants de-hoaxed?
After the study they were reunited with Mr Wallace and debreifed before being interviewed about their experiance
At what voltage did Mr Wallace protest?
300volts
How many psychology students did Milgram survey before the study?
14
What did the psychology students predict about the participants?
0-3% would administer 450 volts
How many participants administerd 450 volts?
65%
How many participants refused to continue after 300 volts?
12.5%
What are examples of the nervousness participants showed?
Biting nails
Stuttering
Sweating
How many participants displayed nervous laughter?
14
How many participants had siezures?
1
What did Milgram conclude?
Situational factors make it difficult to disobey
What situational factors did Milgram identify that made it difficult to disobey?
Prestigious location provided authority
Participants volenteered so felt obligated
They assumed the experimenter was an expert
Learner was in a seperate room
What points can be made when evaluating the study?
Internal validity
Ethical issues
Why is internal validity an issue with the study?
Orne and Holland: Participants may not have thought they were giving real electric shocks but behaved as such due to demand characteristics
Perry: Participants were suspicious as the experimenter remained so calm
Who commented on the internal validity of the study?
Orne and Holland
Perry
What did Orne and Holland say about the internal validity of the study?
Participants may not have thought they were giving real electric shocks but behaved as such due to demand characteristics
How was psychological harm an issue:
Baumrind: He caused psychological damage that could not be justifyed
Perry: He failed in his duty of care as some participants waited a year before their debreifing
How does Milgram defend himself about psychological harm?
Didn’t know it would be so stressful
84% were glad to have taken part
