Milgram's study (1963) - A03

Question 1

What is a strength of Milgram’s study?

Answer 1

• P: Strength = replications have supported Milgram’s findings
• E: Frech TV program - contestants were paid to give fake electric shocks
• E: 80% gave maximum 460V - behaviour similar to Milgram’s PPs
• L: Supports Milgram’s original findings abiut obedience to authority

Question 2

What are limitations of Milgram’s (1963) study?

Answer 2

• P: Limitation = Milgram’s study lacked internal validity
• E: Orne and Holland (1968) = guessed the electric shocks were fake
• E: Only half of the PPs believed the shocks were real
• L: PPs may have been responding to demand characteristics
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• P: limitation = findings are not due to blind obedience
• E: Haslam el al. (2014) - every PP given 3 prods obeyed, those given 4 disobeyed
• E: First 3 prods required identification but the 4th required blind obedience
• L: Shows that the findings are best explained in terms of identification with scientific aims and not as blind obedience to authority