situational variables milgram

Question 1

proximity variable

Answer 1

in baseline study the teacher could hear the leaner but not see him

in proximity variation teacher and learner were in the same room

obedience rate dripped from 65% to 40%

in the touch proximity variation they teacher had to force the learners hand onto an lectrosucok plate if he refused to place it there himself after giving a wrong answer

obedience rate dropped further 30%

in the remote instruction variation the experimenter left they room and gave instructions to the teacher by telephone

obedience rate reduced to 20.5%

participants frequently pretended to give shocks

Question 2

explanation for proximity variable

Answer 2

decreased proximity allows people to psychologically distance themselves from the consequences of their actions

Question 3

location variable

Answer 3

milgrams conducted a variation in a run down office block rather than in yale university

obedience fell to 47.5%

Question 4

explanation for location variable

Answer 4

uni environment gave milgrams study legitimacy and authority

participants were more obedient in this location as they perceived that the experimenter shared this legitimacy of authority and so obedience was expected

however obedience was still quite high in the office block because the participants perceived the scientific nature of the procedure

Question 5

uniform variation

Answer 5

in the baseline study the experimenter wore a lab coat as a symbol of authority

in one variation the experimenter was called away because of an inconvenient telephone call at the start of the procedure

role of the experimenter was taken over by an ordinary person in normal clothes

obedience rates dropped to 20% -lowest

Question 6

explanation of the uniform variation

Answer 6

uniforms encourage obedience because they are widely recognised symbols of authority

without uniform ther is less right to expect our obedience

Question 7

give one strength of the situational variables

Answer 7

research support

strength - other studies have demonstrated the influence of situational variables on obedience

in a field experiment Bickham had three confederate dress in different outfits

jacket and tie
milkman
security guards uniform

confederate individuals stood in the street and asked passers by to perform tasks

people were twice as likely to obey the assistant dressed as a security guard that the one dressed in a jacket and tie

supports the view that a situational variable such as uniform does have a powerful effect on obedience

Question 8

give one strength of the situational variables

Answer 8

cross cultural replications

strength - his findings have been replicated in other cultures

example - Meeas and Raajimaker used a more realistic study in dutch participants

ordered to say stressful things in an interview desperate for a job

90% of participants obeyed

researchers also replicated milgrams findings to proximity

when the person giving the orders was not present obedience decreased dramatically

suggests that milgrams findings about obedience are not just limited to americans or me but are valid across cultures and apply to women too

Question 9

give one limitation about situational variables

Answer 9

low internal validity

limitation - participants may have been aware the procedure was faked

Orne and Holand- point out they it is even more likely in his variation due to the extra manipulation of variables

example - variation where the experimenters is replaced by a member of the public

even milgram recognised that this situation was so contrived some participants may have worked up the truth

therefor in all of milgrams studies it is unclear whether the findings are genuinely due to the operation of obedience or because the participants saw through the deception and just play acted

responds to demand characteristics