milgrams situational varibales

Question 1

proximity

Answer 1

milgrams original study, teacher and learner were in adjoining rooms, so the teacher could hear the learner but not see him

in the proximity variation they were in the same room
obedience rate dropped from baseline 65% to 40%

dramatic touch proximity condition, teacher had to place learners hand on electroshock plate if answered question wrong
obedience dropped to further 30%

third variation, experimenter left room and grace instructions to teacher by telephone

outcome further reduction to 20.5%

Question 2

location

Answer 2

milgram changed the location of the obedience study. This time study conducted in a run down building rather than prestigious yale university where original study took place
this situation, experimenter had less authority
results showed obedience fell to 47.5%
still relatively high but less than original 65% in the original baseline study

Question 3

uniform

Answer 3

originally wore lab coat/experimenter

in variations study-wore everyday clothes

results showed obedience fell to 20% lowest of these variations

Question 4

strength-research support for location and uniform

Answer 4

there is supporting research for the roles of both location and uniform in obedience. Bickman found that 92% of pedestrians obeyed an order to give a stranger money for a parking meter when the person giving the order was dressed as a security guard
compared to only 49% when he was dressed in ordinary clothes, supporting the view that wearing a uniform leads to increased obedience. Milgram found that when he moved his procedure from the prestigious yale uni to a downtown office and the experimenter was just a member of the public the obedience rate dropped from 65% to 48%

Question 5

weakness-research is limited

Answer 5

research fails to consider other factors that may be important in understanding obedience. Oilman and Mann replicated milgrams original study procedures in australia but found that only 16% of the participants shocked the learner at the max voltage level of 450v whereas Mantell showed that it was 85% when conducted in Germany

Question 6

weakness-lack of internal validity

Answer 6

Orne and Hollands criticism of Milgrams original study was that many of the participants worked out that the procedure was worked

Question 7

strength-research support for proximity

Answer 7

there is supporting research for the role of proximity in obedience. Milgram found that when the teacher and learner were in the same room, obedience dropped to 40%

Question 8

what are the 3 variations of milgrams study

Answer 8

Proximity
Uniform
Location

study tip:PUL