milgram - eval

Question 1

Generality

Answer 1

P: one weakness… lacks generalisability

E: conducted on * sample size *

E: milgram found 65% -> 450V, however… cannot be used to understand obedience for the whole population because
* criticism of sample *

Question 2

Reliability

Answer 2

P: one strength…can be tested for reliability

E: SP + SCOEV
- lab experiment
- Yale University
- each teacher given 45V shock
- teacher had to read out word pairs
- administer shocks each incorrect answer
- teacher refused to continue, 4 VP

E: this means another researcher can repeat this study to see if they can find the same results

Question 3

Real World Application

Answer 3

P: one strength…can be applied to the real world

E: milgram found 65% -> 450V
- following orders to administer maximum shock voltage

E: these findings can be used to understand the holocaust.
- hitler -> AFP
- gave orders to kill innocent people
- soldiers thought he’d take full responsibility as an AFP

Question 4

Task Validity

Answer 4

P: one weakness…lacks task validity

E: teacher would administer electric shocks to the learner for each wrong answer

E: this task is artificial
- resulting in unnatural behaviour from ppt
- irl ≠ give shocks for wrong answers

Question 5

Conclusion

Answer 5

Milgrams research into obedience contributed positively to society:
- ensure people do not follow dangerous and unethical orders in medicine, business and military
- however, ppts were psychologically and physically harmed in the experiment
- validity issues suggests more research must be done