OTHER OBEDIENCE EXPERIMENTS [milgram comparison]

Question 1

What did Hofling (1966) and Rank & Jacobson (1977) study for their obedience experiments?

Answer 1

Obedience to authority by nurses

Question 2

How were instructions given to nurses in Hofling’s study?

Answer 2

Over the phone, by an unknown “Dr Smith”

Question 3

How were instructions given to nurses in Rank & Jacobson’s study?

Answer 3

By a known doctor

Question 4

What is one main difference between the two nurse studies?

Answer 4

Hofling - they were alone when they received the instructions
Rank & Jacobson - they were allowed to consult other nurses

Question 5

What is the difference in the drugs they were asked to administer?

Answer 5

Hofling - made up drug

Rank & Jacobson - familiar drug

Question 6

What was the difference in findings? nurses

Answer 6

Hofling - 21/22 obeyed

Rank & Jacobson - 2/18 obeyed

Question 7

What were the nurses asked to do?

Answer 7

Administer double the daily dose of a drug to a patient without proper written authorisation

Question 8

How does Hofling’s study support Milgram?

Answer 8

The nurses were unwilling to disobey the authority figure, despite knowing better

Question 9

How does Rank & Jacobson’s study challenge Milgram?

Answer 9

Being in a familiar situation and being able to discuss with others reduced obedience

Question 10

What do these studies show about obedience? nurses

Answer 10

Obedience is increased in ambiguous situations, however in familiar situations people are more likely to trust their own knowledge