Comformity To Social Roles

Question 1

Strength: High control over extraneous variables

Answer 1

zimbardos research, high control over ext variables, researches assessed emotional stability of ppts, randomly assigned roles of prisoner and guard, behaviour must have been due to the role itself, accurately measure power of social roles, inc internal validity

Question 2

Weakness: gender bias

Answer 2

Androcentric sample, difficult to generalise findings to females, role of guard was a violent one, females wouldn’t conform as much due to being stereotypically more caring and concerned for others, reduces ext validity

Question 3

Weakness: ethical issues

Answer 3

lack of informed consent, ppts didn’t consent to being arrested at their homes and stripped searched, prisoners were not protected from harm, some showed signed of psychological disturbance and were sent home early, reduces credibility

Question 4

Weakness: demand characteristics

Answer 4

Zimbardo took on role of prison superintendent, could have influenced how ppts acted within study, ppts may have conformed as believed this is what zimbardo wanted them to do, lowers internal validity