Milgram's Research Flashcards
what is the aim of Milgram’s research?
investigate how far people would be prepared to go in obeying an authority figure
where was Milgram’s study set?
Yale University
how many participants in Milgram’s research?
40 American men volunteered to take part in a study on learning and memory
what was the method of Milgram’s research?
- ppt was introduced to a confederate pretending to be another ppt
- ppts drew lots to be either teacher or learner (fixed so ppt always got teacher)
what did the experimenter ask the teacher to do?
test learners on word pairs and deliver an electric shock for every mistake made by learner
what was the range of shocks?
15V to 450V (15V intervals)
what did the learner do?
- the learners answered were pre-recorded
- at around 300V the learner would grunt and pound the wall
what would happen if the ppt hesistated to continue?
experimenter would give 4 prods (e.g. the experiment requires you to continue) if the ppt hesitated to continue
what voltage did all ppts go to?
300V
what % of ppts continued to the maximum of 450V?
65%
what were the variations of Milgram’s research (situational variables)?
- location
- proximity
- uniform
how was the method altered for location?
was originally done in Yale lab (prestigious university) to a run down office
how did the results alter for location?
obedience decreased to 47.5%
how was the method altered for proximity and what were the results?
- teacher and learner were in the same room - 40%
- teacher had to force learner’s hand onto the plate to receive the electric shock - 30%
- experimenter left the room and gave instructions to teacher by telephone - 20.5%
how was the method altered for uniform?
experimenter who wore lab coat was taken away due to phone call and role of experimenter was played by a member of the public who wore everyday clothes
how did the results alter for uniform?
obedience decreased to 20%
what is obedience?
acting in response to a direct order from authority
what were the results of Milgram’s study?
- all participants delivered a shock of 300V
- 65% of ppts went to the maximum of 450V
- ppts were distressed, trembling and sweating
what is a strength of Milgram’s research(replicated)?
- Milgram’s findings were replicated in French documentary made about a reality TV show
- Beauvois et al = focused on game show, puts beloved that they were contestants in pilot episode of Game of Death
- paid to give electric shocks to other ppts in front of live audience
- 80% of ppts delivered maximum shock of 460V to apparently unconscious man
- behaviour of ppts was identical to Milgrams, e.g. nail biting
= increases validity
what is a weakness of Milgram’s research(validity)?
- low internal validity
- 75% of ppts said they believes stocks were genuine
- Orne and Holland = ppts behaved as they did as they didn’t really believe in the set up, so play acted
- Perry = listened to tapes of Milgram’s ppts and reported only about half believed shocks were real
- 2/3 of ppts were disobedient
= ppts may be responding to demand characteristics, lowers internal validity
what is weakness of Milgram’s research(blind)?
- Milgram’s conclusions about blind obedience may not be justified
- Haslam et al = ppts obeyed when experimenter delivered 3 verbal prods
- ppts who were given 4th prod, you have no there choice, you have to continue) disobeyed
- SLT = ppts only obeyed when they identified with the scientific aims of research
- when orders to blindly obey authority they refused
= SLT move valid
