Social Approach Flashcards
(113 cards)
Aim of Milgram
• To investigate how obedient individuals would be to orders received from an authority figure even when it would result in physical harm to another person
• To see the level of electric shock that would be administered by a participant under the orders of a researcher
Milgram background
Wanted to know whether Germans were different from others and to understand whether the person’s individual characteristics or the conditions of their environment are more influential on levels of obedience.
How was the sample in Milgram collected?
Volunteer sampling - newspaper advertisement
Number, age, gender of the sample in Milgram
40 men, aged 20-50 yrs
Milgram method
Laboratory experiment (with interview and observation) / controlled observation
Where were the participants from? - Milgram
New Haven, USA
What occupations did the participants have? - Milgram
Range of backgrounds
- unskilled workers
- white collar workers
- professionals
Milgram design
No design - each ppt did the one condition of the study
Milgram variables
No variables
Sometimes said that:
IV = command to obey
DV = shock intensity level
What were the participants in Milgrams study told it was about?
Learning and memory
How much were participants in Milgram’s study paid
$4 + $0.50 for travel
What were the experimenters participating as? - Milgram
Stooges/confederates
Who was the experimenter? - Milgram
31 yr HS biology teacher
Wore a grey lab coat
Which experimenter acted as the ‘learner’ ? - Milgram
Mr Wallace
47 yr accountant trained for the role
Apparatus in Milgram’s study?
- shock generator labelled from 0-450V (in 15V increments) + more info
- electrodes attached to generator
- chair which learner was strapped to
Controls in Milgram
Procedure same for all participants
- same drawing of teacher/learner
- same use of equipment
- same word pairs and prods
How were levels of obedience measured? - Milgram
Through observation
What else did observers take note of? - Milgram
Participant’s body language, verbal comments/protests made throughout the procedure
Type of data gathered in Milgram
Qualitative
- verbal comments, ppt’s becoming stressed, etc
Quantitative
- voltage ppt went to before refusing to continue
How many people withdrew first and at what voltage? - Milgram
5 people at 300V
How many participants went to 450V? - Milgram
26 (65%)
What physical observasions were made? - Milgram
- sweating
- trembling
- stuttering
- biting lips
- digging finger nails into flesh
- nervous laughter
- seizures
How many people had seizures - Milgram
3 (1 was severe)
What were the 2 surprising findings reported by Milgram?
- sheer strength of obedience shown by participants
- extraordinary tension generated by the procedures