Zimbardo's Study

Question 1

What were the participants in Zimbardo’s study?

Answer 1

24 American male undergrads

Question 2

What was the aim?

Answer 2

To investigate how readily people would uniform to the social roles in a simulated environment and specifically. to investigate why ‘good people do bad things’

Question 3

What was the procedure

Answer 3

• Carried out in the basement of Stanford Uni converted to the prison
• Participants were paid to take part
• They were randomly issued the role of the guard or prisoner
• Both roles had to wear uniform
• Prisoners were only referred to by their number
• Guards were given props like sunglasses and handcuffs
• No one was allowed to leave the experiment
• Guards worked 8. hour shifts and others were on call, prisoners were there at all times
• Guards could control. behaviour, however no physical violence in line with ethical. guidelines
• Behaviour was observed

Question 4

What were the findings?

Answer 4

• identification occurred very fast, both adapted to their new roles in a very short amount of time
• Guards began to harass and tourment prisoners in harsh and aggressive ways, they later reported to enjoying their new found roles
• Prisoners would only talk about prison issues and snitch to guards to try and please them
• They’d defend the guards when other prisoners broke the rules
• The guards become more demanding of obedience and assertiveness towards the prisoners whilst they were more submissive

Question 5

Give a + (RLA)

Answer 5

Real life application - Research led to change in the way the US prison systems are run. Young prisoners are no longer left with adults and no longer under constant surveillance

Question 6

Give a + (D)

Answer 6

Debriefing - Participants were debriefed about the aims and results. Very important when considering BPS guidelines. of deception

Question 7

Give a + (EI)

Answer 7

Ethical issues led to formal recognition of ethical guidelines so future

Question 8

Give a - (LEV)

Answer 8

Lacks ecological validity - Suffers from demand characteristics - participants knew they were part of a study and may have altered their behaviour to try and impress

Question 9

Give a - (LPV)

Answer 9

Lacks population validity - Sample was only male Americans so findings can’t be generalised for all genders and cultures

Question 10

Give a - (EI)

Answer 10

Ethical Issues - Lack of full consent due to the deception required to avoid demand characteristics. Zimbardo didn’t know what was going to happen so participants couldn’t be informed. Participants were not protected from anxiety and stress. This study would be deemed unacceptable. according to modern ethical standards