Milgram Baseline Study

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

Wanted to understand behaviour of Germans who followed orders during holocaustTest obedience to legitimate authority and see if they would obey a neutral or constructive order, with little reason to not obey

Question 2

Sample

Answer 2

Volunteers40 menAged 20-50Variety of jobs, professions, educationRecruited through local newspaperPaid $4.50

Question 3

Procedure

Answer 3

Participant introduced to Experimenter, and confederate (mr wallace)Picked name out of hat but both said teacher, so wallace always learnerWallace strapped into chair in another room with electrodesTeacher sat infront of shock machine from 15V to 450, said slight shock and XXXTeacher gave learner shock every mistake, increasing by 15VTeacher delivered 300V learner pounded on wall, no sound after 315VIf teacher protested, experimenter used standardised prompts - you must continueTeacher protested after 4th prompt, they could leave

Question 4

Findings

Answer 4

65% went to 450V100% went to 300V, 12.5% disobeyed at this pointParticipants sweat, bite lips, dig fingernails into flesh, 35% nervous laughter, 3 seizures

Question 5

Conclusion

Answer 5

Ordinary americans obedient to legitimate authority

Question 6

Strength

Answer 6

Every participant has same experienceExperimenter’s prompts the same, same tone/words/orderReplicable, (burger 2009)

Question 7

CA

Answer 7

Perry (2012) there were occasions when experimenter deviated from script, allegedly gave 20 prodsMay not be standardised

Question 8

Weakness

Answer 8

Orne and Holland (2012)Participants guessed shocks were fake but went along with procedure anywayPerry (2012) also had participants question shocksLacked construct validity

Question 9

Application

Answer 9

Tarnow (2000)Officers fail to monitor challenge errors made by captain due to legitimate authorityTraining first officers to challenge authority of pilots could prevent 20% plane crashes