Social Influence: Milgram's obedience

Question 1

Who were Milgram’s ppts?

Answer 1

Recruited 40 males through newspaper adverts to take part in ‘memory study’

Question 2

How were the ppts allocated in Milgram’s study?

Answer 2

A confederate (Mr Wallace) was always the learner,another was the experimentor with a lab coat and the ppt was always the teacher

Question 3

What was the procedure of Milgram’s study?

Answer 3

• The learner was strapped to a chair in another room and wired with electrodes
• They were given the task to recall word pairs and when made mistake ppt had to give increasingly severe shock
• Encouraged by verbal prods from the experimentor
• They were not told that shocks were fake and wallace was actor

Question 4

What were the findings of Milgram’s study?

Answer 4

• No ppt stopped below 300v
• 5 stopped at 300v
• 65% continued to 450v (highest level)

Question 5

What were the conclusions of Milgram’s study?

Answer 5

People obey legitmate authority even if it means our behaviour causes harm to someone else

Question 6

What was the limitation that suggested that Milgram’s study lacked internal validity?

Answer 6

• Orne + Holland thought ppts guessed shocks fake and were acting
• Perry studied tape recordings and only half thought real
• Responsing to demand characteristics

Question 7

What is the strength of Milgram’s study that suggests there is research support?

Answer 7

• Sheridan + King real shocks to puppies (54% males + 100% females)
• Beauvois et al french tv show 80% gave shocks to unconscious man
• Obedience in study may be genuine

Question 8

What is the limitation that suggests the findings weren’t due to blind obedience?

Answer 8

• Haslam found ppts obeyed first 3 prods which required identification with science of research
• Those given fourth disobeyed as it required blind obedience
• Findings best explained as identification with scientific aims rather than obedience to authority

Question 9

What is the limitation of Milgram’s study that suggests there are ethical issues?

Answer 9

• Baumrind said ppts were decieved bc thought shocks were real
• Serious consequences for ppts and researchers
• Damage reputation of reseearchers in eyes of the public

Question 10

What are the titles of the evaluation points of Milgram’s study?

Answer 10

• Lack of internal validity
• Research support
• Findings not due to blind obedience
• Ethical issues

Question 11

Who are the key thinkers in Milgram’s study?

Answer 11

Milgram
Orne + Holland
Perry
Sheridan + King
Beauvois et al
Haslam
Baumrind

Question 12

What did Orne + Holland suggest was a limitation of Milgram’s study?

Answer 12

Ppts knew shocks were fake so were play acting

Question 13

What did Perry suggest was a limitation of Milgram’s study?

Answer 13

In taoe recordings only half the ppts thought the shocks were real

Question 14

What did Sherdian + King suggest was a strength of Milgram’s study?

Answer 14

54% males and 100% gave real shocks to puppies

Question 15

What did Beauvois et al suggest was a strength of Milgram’s study?

Answer 15

80% of ppts in french game show gave electric shocks to unconscious man

Question 16

What did Haslam suggest was a limitation of Milgram’s study?

Answer 16

People who were given the fourth prod did not obey bc it requires blind obedience rather that identfication with scientific aims

Question 17

What did Baumrind suggest was a limitation of Milgram’s study?

Answer 17

The ppts were decieved which could have serious consequences for them or reputation of psychologists