Milgrim

Question 0

background summary

Answer 0

WW2 Nazis just following orders, raised questions as to what extent people are obedient ‘the Germans are different’
Milgrim = obedience can be produced in anybody

Question 1

Title

Answer 1

behavioural study of obedience

Question 2

Aims/ hypothesis

Answer 2

Investigate the process of obedience, to demonstrate the power of legitimate authority even when the common requires destructive behaviour

Question 3

Research method used + strengths & weaknesses

Answer 3

controlled observation
very controlled, experienced in the same way = high reliability
low ecological validity

Question 4

Sample + strength & weakness

Answer 4

40men aged 20-50, New Haven, all paid £4.50, various backgrounds etc, self-selecting sample
representative sample
androcentric & ethnocentric sample

Question 5

IV & DV

Answer 5

IV- none

DV - obedience ; what level of shock generate subjects dropped out on

Question 6

controls used

Answer 6

Prods

1) please continue / please go on
2) the experiment requires that you continue
3) it’s absolutely essential that you continue
4) you have no other choice you must continue

Question 7

Procedure

Answer 7

ps told study on how punishment effected learning, always got teacher
teacher gives learner a task if they get it wrong they get shocked & the shock level increases
teacher announces the shock increase as reminder
everyone 3erong answers 1 right
does not react until 300V pounds on wall & no longer reacts after 315V

Question 8

Results / Findings

Answer 8

number who stopped intense shock (300v) -5
who stopped at extreme shock (360V) - 8
who stopped at danger severe shock (375V) - 1
continued to full (450V) - 26 (65% of subjects prepared to kill someone in learning experiment)

Question 9

Explanation of results

Answer 9

assume experimenter knows what he’s doing
assume learner has given consent
obligation reinforced as he’s paid
torn between meeting demands of subject or experimenter
discomfort is temporary
subjects do not know how to behave as its a novel situation

Question 10

conclusions

Answer 10

certain situations turn people into an agentic state, as we’re socialised to follow orders all through life
65% went all the way, however they showed signs of discomfort but continued anyway
peoples obedience depends on the situation & who is telling them what to do & the obligations involved

Question 11

practical applications

Answer 11

teaches people to challenge authority
use obedience- good in certain areas of society
become aware some people can be easily lead but authority
understands precious behaviours WW2

Question 12

ecological validity

Answer 12

LOW
artificial setting & task
high experimental realism as participants showed distress & reacted as if it was real

Question 13

ethics

Answer 13

withdrawal- not given (prods)
deception- lied about experiment, couldn’t drop it + learner being in pain
protection- affected subjects mentally, extreme nervous tension

Question 14

data collection

Answer 14

Quantitative- levels of shock

Qualitative- observations + interviews

Question 15

Improvements

Answer 15

Improve ethics- elaborate

Test both men & women- elaborate