Milgram Study - Methodology & Procedure

Question 1

Where was the Milgram study conducted and why?

Answer 1

In a lab environment so that conditions could be controlled.

Question 2

How did Milgram gather his sample?

Answer 2

He used volunteering by placing an advert in a newspaper. He chose 40 males out of who responded.

Question 3

Describe Milgram’s sample.

Answer 3

• 40 males.
• Between the ages of 20 - 50.
• They had a range of jobs.
• They varied in level of education.

Question 4

What did the participants believe they were taking part in?

Answer 4

They believed they were taking part in research about memory and learning.

Question 5

How much was each participant paid for their participant in the study?

Answer 5

• $4.50.
• They would receive this simply by coming to the lab, payment didn’t depend on remaining in the study.

Question 6

What university was the study conducted at?

Answer 6

• Yale University.

Question 7

Who were the participants greeted by when they arrived?

Answer 7

• They were greeted by the ‘experimenter’ who was wearing a grey technicians coat, as well as a likeable ‘participant’.
• Both were accomplices of Milgram.

Question 8

Why did they draw slips of paper?

Answer 8

To decide who would be the teacher and who would be the learner, although the selection was rigged, the participant was always assigned to the teacher.

Question 9

Where was the learner taken?

Answer 9

The learner was taken to the experimental room and was trapped into an ‘electric chair’

Question 10

Where was the teacher taken?

Answer 10

The teacher was taken to the adjoining room with the shock generator and was given a sample shock to show that the machine was real.

Question 11

Describe the shock machine.

Answer 11

• It had 30 switches, showing an increase in voltage from 15V to 450V.
• 15V was labelled ‘slight shock’
• 255V was labelled ‘intense shock’
• 450V was labelled ‘XXX’. This would be fatal.

Question 12

What was the teacher instructed to do?

Answer 12

• The teacher was instructed to administer a shock when the learner gave a wrong answer, increasing in shock level each time and announcing the shock level each time.
• The learner was told not to make any comments until the shock level reached 300V.

Question 13

What prods did the experimenter give when the participants hesitated about delivering a shock?

Answer 13

• ‘Please continue’
• ‘The experiment requires that you continue’
• ‘It is absolutely essential that you continue’
• ‘You have no other choice, you must go on’

Question 14

What happened after the research was completed?

Answer 14

• The participant was debriefed and was reunited with the learner.
• The participants were interviewed about their experience in the study.