2.5.1 Milgram: Methodology & Procedures

Question 1

what is the aim of Milgrams study

Answer 1

To investigate whether ordinary people would obey an authority figure when asked to perform action that conflict with their personal conscience

Question 2

describe the sample used in Milgram

Answer 2

• 40 male participants
• aged between 20-50 years old
• participants came from a range of occupations and educational backgrounds

Question 3

how was the sample recruited for Milgram

Answer 3

• they were recruited through a newspaper advertisement
• offered payment ($4.50) for participating in study about ‘memory and learning’

Question 4

what was the sampling method used in Milgram

Answer 4

• volunteer sampling
• selection was random

Question 5

what was the setting in Milgrams study

Answer 5

setting: Yale University - adds legitamacy

• ptps told they were taking part in a study on the effects of punishment on learning

Question 6

what was the role assignment in Milgrams study

Answer 6

role assingment: ptps always the teacher, confederate always the learner

• roles were assigned using a fixed draw but appeared random to the ptps

Question 7

what was the task in Milgrams study

Answer 7

• the teacher was instructed to read word pairs and test the learner memory
• for each incorrect answer, teacher would administer an electric shock
  > voltage increased by 15V increments

Question 8

what were the shock levels and labels in Milgrams study

Answer 8

ranged from 15V to 450V

300V = strong shock
330V = intense shock
450V= XXX/Danger: severe shock

Question 9

what was the reality of the shocks in Milgram

Answer 9

• no actual shocks were given (learner was never harmed)
• learners reactions (shouting, banging on wall) were pre-recorded/scripted
• a sample shock (45V) was administered to convince ptps that shocks were real

Question 10

what were the experiment prompts in Milgrams study

Answer 10

1. “please continue”
2. “the experiment requires that you continue”
3. “it is absolutely essential that you continue”
4. “you have no other choice, you must go on”

• the first 3 = emphasis on obedience to science
• the last one = refers to learner, invoking moral conflict

Question 11

what were the factors affecting obedience

Answer 11

1. proximity
2. location
3. uniform

Question 12

how did proximity affect obedience in Milgrams study

Answer 12

• same room = 62.5% obedience
• different rooms = 40% obedience (coudlnt see each other)
• touch-proximity = 30% (physically placing learner hand onto shock plate)

Question 13

how did location affect obedience in Milgrams study

Answer 13

• yale university added sense of trust and legitamacy
• when moved to rundown office building, obedience decreased to 47.5%

Question 14

how did uniform affect obedience in Milgrams study

Answer 14

• lab coat in og study = scientific authority
• normal clothes = sig. drop in obedience
  > shows power of symbolic authority
• demand characteristics = stronger in normal clothes condition
  > suspected a study and no real