Milgram’s Variations

Question 1

What is the ethics key term that refers to participants’ right to end their participation in a study at any time?

Answer 1

Right to withdraw

Participants should not feel obligated to continue without justification.

Question 2

What does ‘protection from harm’ mean in the context of research ethics?

Answer 2

Participants must be protected from physical and mental harm and not exposed to risks greater than their normal lifestyles.

This principle ensures the well-being of research participants.

Question 3

What is an example of deception in Milgram’s study?

Answer 3

Participants were misled about the true nature of the study, believing they were administering real shocks to another person.

This deception could lead to embarrassment and stress.

Question 4

True or False: 84% of participants in Milgram’s study reported being glad to have participated.

Answer 4

True

This suggests that the study may not have caused lasting psychological harm.

Question 5

What was the aim of Experiment 7 (telephone proximity) in Milgram’s study?

Answer 5

To see whether the proximity of the experimenter would affect obedience.

Question 6

What was the obedience level in Experiment 7 (telephone proximity)?

Answer 6

22.5%

Many participants administered lower shocks than instructed.

Question 7

What was the procedure of Experiment 10 (rundown building)?

Answer 7

Instead of being set in Yale University, the experiment was set up in a less prestigious commercial building run by an unknown organisation “Research Associates of Bridgeport”. The 3-room office suite was sparsely furnished.

Question 8

What was the obedience level in Experiment 10 (rundown building)?

Answer 8

Level of Obedience dropped to 48%

Question 9

What is the aim of Experiment 13 (ordinary man)?

Answer 9

To see whether legitimacy of authority would affect obedience.

Question 10

What was the obedience level found in Experiment 13 (ordinary man)?

Answer 10

20%

Question 11

List three factors that affect obedience according to Milgram’s variation studies.

Answer 11

• Authority of the individual
• Legitimacy of the environment
• Physical presence

Question 12

Fill in the blank: The right to leave was violated by the use of _______.

Answer 12

verbal prods

Question 13

What did Sedikides and Jackson (1990) find regarding proximity and obedience?

Answer 13

The further away the authority figure, the less likely guests were to obey instructions.

Question 14

What did Sedikides and Jackson’s zoo study suggest about legitimacy of authority?

Answer 14

Participants followed instructions more when the authority figure wore a uniform than casual clothing.

Question 15

What ethical concern is raised by the use of deception in Milgram’s study?

Answer 15

Participants were not given informed consent.

Question 16

What was a significant psychological impact observed in some participants of Milgram’s study?

Answer 16

3 participants had seizures due to stress imposed on them.

Question 17

What does ‘legitimacy of the environment’ refer to in Milgram’s studies?

Answer 17

The impact of the setting on participants’ obedience levels.

Question 18

What was the procedure of Experiment 7?

Answer 18

After giving the first instructions, the experimenters leaves the rooms and communicates with the participant through a phone.

Question 19

Evaluate experiment 7 - proximity (telephone study). STRENGTH

Answer 19

Other studies also found a link between low proximity decreasing obedience, this demonstrates it is reliable. Sedikides and Jackson (1990) found in the NY Bronx zoo, the further away the authority figure is (zoo keeper), the less likely the guests were to obey their instructions to not lean on the railing. This shows Milgram’s findings on how proximity affects obedience also applies to realistic situations.

Question 20

Evaluate experiment 13 - legitimacy of authority figure (ordinary man study). STRENGTH

Answer 20

One strength of this study is other studies support the findings, so it has reliable. Sedikides and Jackson’s zoo study found when the experimenter wore a zoo keeper’s uniform, complete with an official patch on the shirt, participants would follow their instructions more than when he wore a T-shirt, shorts, and sandals. This suggests that the participants decrease in obedience was due to the lesser authority the ordinary man has, showing a cause effect relationship between decreased authority and decreased obedience.

Question 21

Evaluate experiment 10 - legitimacy of environment (rundown office block). STRENGTH

Answer 21

Milgram gathered more detailed data. Milgram collected not only quantitative but qualitative data in the form of audio recordings. The transcripts showed that the earlier in the procedure the participant challenged, the more likely they were to be fully defiant. This qualitative data means a deeper insight into different types of resistance.