Social Approach Flashcards
What was the aim and hypothesis for Milgram
The aim was to see if cultural differences affect obedience
The hypothesis was that American people will be obedient to an authoritative figure similar to the Germans in WW2
What was the sample for Milgram
40 new haven men
Aged 20-50
Volunteer sample
What is the Milgram study based on (background)
The holocaust WW2
The Germans killing hundreds of Jews
What is the research method used in the Milgram study?
Controlled observation
What is the IV in Milgram
There is no IV
It is a structured observation therefore there is no IV
How was the DV measured in Milgram
How high will people go before they stop the shocks being administered
What are the controls in Milgram
At the start of the procedure:
“Although the shocks may be painful there is no permanent tissue damage”
4 prompts:
1”please continue”
2”the experiment requires you continue”
3”it is absolutely essential you continue”
4”you have no other choice, you must go on”
What ethical issues were broken in the Milgram study
Consent -> didn’t consent to the actual study
Deception -> they didn’t know the real study
Withdrawal -> 4 prods
Protection of participant -> not protected from mental harm
What was the quantitative and qualitative data collected by Milgram
Quantitative -> 60% of people went to 450 volts
Qualitative -> Milgram questioned people after the experiment
Name and explain two improvements
1) improve the ethics
2) improve the sample
- the sample is androcentric
What are the results for milgram
- predictions ~ Milgram showed the experiment to 14 psychologists and they predicted 3% of participants would go to 450volts
- realism ~ in the post experiment participants were given a shock to see how painful it was
- signs of extreme tension ~ many subjects showed nervousness and extreme tension, 14 displayed nervous laughter
- distribution of scores ~ over half the participants went to 450 volts, only 9 stopped at 300 volts
Give possible explanations for the results of Milgram
Location, in a university, provides authority
It’s for science !
Money
Mundane realism, it’s a novel situation with no norm to behav making them more likely to follow an authority figure
What is the conclusion that Milgram made?
We can infer that obedience is affected by situational factors rather than dispositional factors
What are the practical applications of Milgram
It will help us change behaviour towards an authoritative figure if someone similar to hitler returned
What is the background for piliavin’s study
Kitty Genovese being murdered and no one calling the police
30 witnesses
What are the four aims/hypothesis of Piliavin
1) participants are more likely to help a victim who is I’ll than they are to help a victim who is drunk
2) participants are more likely to help someone who is the same race
3) participants are more likely to help when a model intervenes
4) the larger the group the longer it will take for the victim to receive help
What is the research method used in piliavin
Field experiment
What was the sample for piliavin
4500 men and women
We’re travelling on the subway in New York on weekdays between 11am and 3pm
Over a two month period
Average of 43 people in a carriage
What sampling technique was used for piliavin
Opportunity sample
What are the 4 IVs for piliavin
Type of victim -> drunk/I’ll
Race of victim
Impact of model -> 70secs/150secs/no model
Group size
What were the 6 DVs for piliavin
Frequency of help Speed of help Race of helper Sex of helper Movement out of area Verbal comments
What were the controls of the study
4 teams of 4 researchers 2 women -> data collection 2 men-> 1victim and 1 model Model interventions standardised Victims
How were the victims controlled in piliavin
3 white and 1 black (26-35)
Dressed and acted identically
Collapsed after 70 seconds
Remained on the floor until help came (model)
Briefly explain the procedure for piliavin
The 2 observers too seats in the critical area
The victim and model stayed standing
After approximately 70seconds the victim staggered forward and collapsed (remained on his back until help came)
How was the victim presented in piliavin
Drunk -> he victim smelled of alcohol and carried a bottle with him (in a paper bag)
Ill/cane -> the victim appeared sober and had a black cane
What were the results for the I’ll or drunk scenario in piliavin
Ill-> spontaneous help 95% of the time Drunk-> spontaneous help 50% ~ before model stepped in Ill-> 87% were helped (5seconds) Drunk->17%were helped (109seconds)
What were the results for the same race scenario in piliavin
Black victims received less help less quickly especially if they were drunk
What were the results for the model intervention (before&after) scenario in piliavin
Before a model intervened (70seconds) 87% of people helped the ill victim and 17%helped the drunk
After the model intervened 13%helped the ill and 83% helped the drunk
What were the results for the group size scenario in piliavin
The more passengers who were immediate vicinity of the victim the more likely help was given
This goes against the diffusion of responsibility hypothesis)
What are the possible explanations of piliavins results
~the situation created psychological arousal
~the bystander may think the victim deserves it or someone else will help-diffusion of responsibility/no one else is helping so there isn’t a real emergency-pluralistic ignorance
~the cost and reward matrix
What conclusion can we draw from piliavins results
Look in folder
What practical applications does piliavins study offer
~It could help in large scale disaster planning
~teaching within schools
~making us aware of our own prejudices
Is piliavin high or low in ecological validity
HIGH
It is carried out in a real life situation (field experiment)
Passengers were unaware of the study
What quantitative and qualitative data was collected in piliavins study
QUANTITATIVE ~ number and type of passengers who helped
QUALITATIVE ~ passengers thoughts and feelings
Name and explain to possible changes to the piliavin study
Have different victims for example females pregnant lame drunk old young
The passenger could take part in a questionnaire after they get off of the train ~ qualitative
What is the background to richer and Haslam (r&h)
The Stanford prison experiment Social identity theory: 1) categorisation 2) social comparison 3) membership and self concept
What are the main aims/hypothesis of r&h
X5
- provide data on the unfolding interactions between groups of unequal power
- to analyse the conditions that lead individuals to (i) identify with their group (ii) accept or challenge inter group inequalities
-to examine the role of social, organisational and clinical factors in group behaviour
-to develop practical and ethical guidelines for examining social psychological issues in large-scale studies
OVERALL AIM-> to study the way people respond to a system of inequality
What is the main assumption of the social approach
Assumes hat behaviour is shaped by situational factors such as the environment
What are the strengths and limitations of the social approach (12marks)
X4 PEC 2strengths 2 limitations •Strengths : Large samples - can be generalised Experimental realism High in reliability - uses standardised procedures •Limitations : Lots of unethical studies Ethnocentric samples Doesn't take into account biological factors or physiological factors
One similarity and one difference between two studies in the social approach (6marks)
PEEx2
•similarity :
Piliavin and reicher and Haslam - both collected data through observation - example - explain
Piliavin and Milgram - had major ethical issues - example - explain
•difference :
Piliavin and Milgram - piliavin was a field experiment and Milgram was a structured observation
Reicher and Haslam and Milgram - reicher and Haslam had good ethics, unlike Milgram
