Milgram Flashcards
(15 cards)
What did participants think was the aim of Milgram’s study?
To investigate the effects of punishment on learning.
This reflects a common misconception about the study’s true focus.
What was the actual aim of Milgram’s study?
To investigate what level of obedience will be shown when participants are told by an authority figure to administer electric shocks to another person.
This aim highlights the study’s focus on obedience to authority.
What age range were the participants in Milgram’s study?
Aged 20-50.
This age range was chosen to examine adult obedience.
What was the gender of all participants in Milgram’s study?
Male.
This limitation affects the generalizability of the findings to females.
From where were all participants in Milgram’s study recruited?
New Haven.
This geographical limitation affects the generalizability to other regions.
What socioeconomic status were participants from in Milgram’s study?
Middle-Class.
This may influence the results, as socioeconomic factors can affect obedience.
What is one limitation of the sample used in Milgram’s study?
All 40 participants were male, therefore the sample is not representative of females.
This limitation can skew the understanding of obedience across genders.
How were participants obtained for Milgram’s study?
Participants were self-selected/volunteers who responded to a newspaper advert.
This recruitment method may introduce self-selection bias.
True or False: All participants in Milgram’s study were volunteers.
True.
Volunteer sampling can lead to a non-representative sample.
Fill in the blank: The sample for Milgram’s study consisted of _______.
40 male participants aged 20-50 from New Haven.
This specific demographic may not reflect broader populations.
What is one disadvantage of the way the sample was obtained?
The sample may not be representative of the whole population because participants all responded to an advertisement in a local newspaper.
A certain type of individual may choose to volunteer, e.g. more motivated individuals may be more obedient.
How was obedience measured in Milgram’s study?
Observers noted down the maximum shock a participant administered (between 15 – 450 volts) before they refused to go any further or the study ended.
What is one problem with measuring obedience using this method?
Using only quantitative data could lead to wrong conclusions about participants being uncaring, which could lower the validity of the study.
Participants may have administered more electric shocks due to demand characteristics, knowing they were being observed.
Describe the ‘shock generator’ apparatus used in Milgram’s study.
The shock generator had shock levels starting at 15 volts and increasing in 15-volt increments up to 450 volts. Switches were labelled with terms including ‘slight shock,’ ‘moderate shock,’ and ‘danger: severe shock.’
How was the ‘shock generator’ used to measure obedience?
Observers noted down the maximum shock a participant administered (between 15 – 450 volts) after a wrong answer was given by a learner before they refused to go any further or the study ended.
