Milgram SOCIAL

Question 1

Design?

Answer 1

Controlled observation (in a laboratory) using self-report

Question 2

Experiment
Yes / No
Why?

Answer 2

No
No independent variable

Question 3

Sample?
How gathered?

Answer 3

Advert in local paper

Sent out mail shot in post

Ps sort for study relating to memory

Must be men 20-50: not high school / college students

Question 4

Sample?
Who?

Answer 4

40 ps selected from 500 volunteers
40 men from different careers / back.

Question 5

Type of sample

Answer 5

Self selected

Question 6

Who was experimenter?

Answer 6

Biology teacher in technician coat
Accomplice of Milgram: confederate

Question 7

Who was learner?

Answer 7

(Victim)
47 year old accountant, trained for role
Accomplice of Milgram: confederate

Question 8

Materials / apparatus

Answer 8

Shock generator

Question 9

Procedure summary

Answer 9

Ps told study aimed to see how punishment affected learning (truth withheld)

Receive $4.50 for ps

Ps introduced to fake participant , drew lots but true ps always got teacher

Learner and teacher taken to lab

Learner strapped into electric chair to prevent movement

Electrode attacked to learners wrist and connected to shock generator

Experimenter advised no tissue damage be caused but painful

Teacher experienced 45 v

Teacher read questions to learner who in seperate room

If teacher expressed desire to stop giving shocks then experimenter gave comment - must continue

When shock hit 300 v learner had been instructed to pound on wall and repeated 315 v after which stopped responding

Question 10

Location

Answer 10

Laboratory at Yale University

Question 11

Results?
Type of data

Answer 11

Quantitative and qualitative data

Question 12

Results?
Quantitative data

Answer 12

40 ps (100%) : continued shocks to 300 v

5 ps (12.5%) : stopped at critical point of 300v

9 more ps stopped 315-375 v

Question 13

Results?
Obedient / disobedient

Answer 13

Obedience: 26/40 ps (65%)
Continued to the end (450v)

Disobedient: 14/40 ps
Some point stopped

Question 14

Results?
Qualitative data

Answer 14

Many showed nervousness: sweat, tremble, stutter, bite their lips etc.

3 ps: full uncontrollable seizures

Comments showed distress

Question 15

Strength?

Answer 15

Variables ie shock levels are easier to control (than in natural env.)

Question 16

Weakness?

Answer 16

Controlled laboratory env.:

Ps aware they are being studied - DEMAND CHARACTERISTICS - might realise study about obedience

Question 17

Ethnocentrism?

Answer 17

Yes

Only Americans involved
Only men involved
No school / uni students

Question 18

Validity?

Answer 18

Whether ps believed in set up

Question 19

Sampling bias strength and weakness

Answer 19

Strength:
Range of careers and background - representative of target population - generalisable

Weakness:
Gender differences limits generalisability

Question 20

Ethics?

Answer 20

Deception - told study about memory and shocks were real

Informed consent - didn’t know true nature of study so couldn’t decide properly whether they wanted to take part - psychological harm

Debrief - yes : positive about taking part - learned from experience

Question 21

Aim?

Answer 21

This study sought to investigate the process of obedience; to demonstrate the power of a legitimate authority even when a command requires destructive behaviour