Milgrim et al. - Obedience Flashcards
What was the aim of Milgrim’s study on Obedience?
• To see whether an ordinary American would cause harm to someone under the influence of an authority figure to test if Germans were specifically obedient.
Describe the participants from Milgrim’s study.
- 40 males.
- Aged 20-50.
- All local to New Haven area, Connecticut.
Name a possible IV and the DV of Milgrim’s study.
- IV - The prods used by the experimenter.
* DV - The level of obedience the PP showed.
How were the participants recruited in Milgrim’s study and what was it claimed to be for?
- Newspaper advertisement.
- Direct mail advertisement.
- For a study on memory and learning.
How much were they paid and what was the interesting part about their payment in Milgrim’s study?
- Paid $4.50.
* They were told they would be paid no matter what, as long as they turned up whenever they wanted.
What kind of data was collected in Milgrim’s study?
- Quantitative and qualitative.
- Quantitative - When and how far the PPs shocked the learner.
- Qualitative - The PPs physical condition and comments made while conducting the shocks.
How did both the experimenter and learner appear in Milgrim’s study?
- Experimenter - Appeared stern, cold and emotionless throughout. Wore a grey lab coat.
- Learner - Mr Wallace, mild-mannered and likeable by most PPs.
How were the roles of learner/teacher decided in Milgrim’s study?
- Picked a piece of paper from a hat.
* Was rigged so that the actor was always the learner.
What were some of the ways the participants were convinced the shock was real in Milgrim’s study?
- A sample 45V electric shock (from a 45V battery not the mains).
- The apparatus looked real and scientific.
- The voltages had labels on them detailing what volt it was.
- The learner would scream in pain using standardised screams played from a speaker in the room.
How many prods were there in Milgrim’s study of Obedience?
- 4 prods used when the PP asked whether or not to continue.
- One special prod was used if the PP asked about the health of the learner, reassuring him that they do not cause permanent physical harm.
- Another special prod was used if the PP said the learner did not want to continue, saying the learner must continue participating until all words were learnt.
What were the quantitative results from Milgram’s study?
- 100% of PPs went up to 300 volts.
* 65% went up to 450 volts.
What was the background information for Milgram’s study on obedience?
• The trial of Eichmann, a World War 2 Nazi party member responsible for transporting the holocaust victims to camps.
