Social Area: Bocchiaro Evaluation

Question 1

Research Method

Answer 1

Strengths:- Highly standardised procedure made it replicable across its 149 participants, aiding its replicability.
- New and more ethical way of investigating obedience that can be repeated years later.

Weaknesses:- Doesn’t meet the criteria to be an experiment as it lacks an independent variable.

Question 2

Data

Answer 2

Strengths:- Both quantitative and qualitative data (the comments participants made explaining their behaviour during the debrief) were collected, quantitative data was useful for purposes of comparison if the study is replicated and made conclusions easy to draw, and qualitative data was useful as it explained why participants behaved in the way they did.

Weaknesses:- The qualitative data had to be organised after it had been collected e.g. which participants justified their behaviour by allocating personal responsibility to external forces.

Question 3

Ethics

Answer 3

Strengths:-For the most part remained within ethical guidelines, e.g. confidentiality respected, consent obtained, could have withdrawn and were fully debriefed and ensured not to have left with guilt.
- The minority of whistleblowers and disobedient participants would have an enhanced sense of self-worth for resisting the pressure.

Weaknesses:- Participants experienced a high level of deception and the consent that was given was not fully informed. They may have left with guilt.

Question 4

Validity

Answer 4

Strengths:-

Weaknesses:-

Question 5

Reliability

Answer 5

Strengths:-

Weaknesses:-

Question 6

Sample

Answer 6

Strengths:-

Weaknesses:-

Question 7

Ethnocentrism

Answer 7

Strengths:-

Weaknesses:-