Milgram Flashcards
Describe the sample
40 males
Aged between 20 and 50
From the New Haven area
What is the Aim of the study?
To investigate what level of obedience would be shown when participants were told by an authority figure to administer electric shocks to another person.
What sampling technique was used?
How was this achieved?
Self-Selected sampling was used in this study.
A newspaper and direct mail advertisement were used.
What is the IV in the study?
IV: Degree of physical immediacy of an authority figure.
What is the DV in the study?
The voltage that each participant shocked to.
What controls were in the study?
All dialogue was scripted.
The learner responses were the same for every participant.
The experimentor wore the same lab coat each time.
What were the quantitative results?
All participants obeyed up to 300v
14 defied the experimentor and 26 obeyed
There was a total figure of 65% obedience
What were the qualitative results?
Participants showed signs of nervousness and tension such as nervous fits of laughter.
3 participants had seizures.
What is the conclusion of the study?
Ordinary people are likely to follow orders given by an authority figure even to the extent of killing a person.
Positive evaluation points:
+ High levels of control.
+ Both qualitative and quantitative data was collected.
Negative evaluation points:
- Participants were paid $4.50 to take part, this may influence obedience levels. Unrepresentative.
- Ethical issues.
- Unrepresentative sample. All male.
