Milgram’s Method

Question 1

What were some of the controls?

Answer 1

• same cover story (testing punishment + learning)
• fixed lottery
• Mr Wallace’s reactions
• sample shock of 45V
• word pair task

Question 2

Why is it not an experiment?

Answer 2

There is no independent variable.
It’s an observation as they were watched through a one way mirror

Question 3

Who were the participants?

Answer 3

• men from New Haven
• 20-50 years old
• employed in “normal” jobs
• no students

Question 4

How many participants did milgram want?

Answer 4

500

Question 5

How many participants did they get?

Answer 5

40

Question 6

How were participants recruited?

Answer 6

• newspaper advert
• direct mail
• offered $4.50 for their time

Question 7

Step 1

Answer 7

Participants were told the experiment was on punishment and learning

Question 8

Step 2

Answer 8

Participants tested individually and were always the teacher (fixed lottery)

Question 9

Step 3

Answer 9

Participants saw “the volunteer” strapped to a chair and told the shocks weren’t harmful

Question 10

Step 4

Answer 10

Participants got a sample shock of 45V

Question 11

Step 5

Answer 11

The teacher was in a room adjacent to the “learner” and read word pairs over the intercom

Question 12

Step 6

Answer 12

Teacher asks the student to identify the correct answer from a choice of 4 by pressing switches.

Question 13

Step 7

Answer 13

Every wrong answer resulted in an electric shock which increased by 15V each time

Question 14

Step 7

Answer 14

Experiment continued until 450V or the participant withdrew

Question 15

Step 8

Answer 15

Participant debriefed and reintroduced to the “learner”

Question 16

What were the 4 prods

Answer 16

• please continue
• the experiment requires you to continue
• it’s absolutely essential that you continue
• you have no choice you must go on

Question 17

Predictions

Answer 17

Only an insignificant minority would go through to 450V.
0-3%
Mean 1.2%