Studies

Question 1

Aim, results and conclusion of milgrams study (1963)

Answer 1

• aim: to see if people would obey orders and give electric shocks to other participants
• results: every participant continued to 350v and 65% of participants continued to the max 450v
• conclusion: humans are surprisingly obedient to authority even when it comes to harming others

Question 2

Evaluation of milgrams obedience study

Answer 2

• G = included only male participants so study isn’t generalisable
• R = can be replicated and compared e.g burger 2009
• A = can explain the actions of the nazis in the holocaust
• V = lacks ecological validity because task is artificial
• E = use of deception and lack of protection for participants

Question 3

Telephonic instructions variation of milgrams study (experiment 7)

Answer 3

• distance varied to see effect on obedience
• obedience dropped from 65% to 22.5%
• strength: can be compared to milgrams study - increases reliability
• weakness : not a natural situation - question over validity

Question 4

Rundown office block variation of milgrams study (experiment 10)

Answer 4

• experiment moved to see if the power of institution affected the results
• 47.5% obeyed (decreased from 65%)
• strength: added to validity due to the setting and scenario
• weakness: obedience didn’t fall by much - validity may still be questioned

Question 5

Ordinary man gives orders variation of milgrams study (experiment 13)

Answer 5

• experimenter leaves and accomplice suggests how they should do the study
• only 20% obeyed
• strength: procedure was the same so it can be compared
• weakness: still a lot of authority involved

Question 6

Aim, results and conclusion of burger replicating milgrams study (2009)

Answer 6

• aim: to replicate milgrams study in an ethical way
• results: 70% obeyed to the max of 150v
• conclusion: he could not fully ethically replicate milgrams study

Question 7

Evaluation of burger replicating milgram study

Answer 7

• G = large sample and age range used of males and females
• R = can be compared to milgrams study
• A = can explain the actions of the Nazis in the holocaust
• V = lacked ecological validity
• E = participants informed of right to withdraw and there was a screening process before

Question 8

Aim, results and conclusion of sherif et al robbers cave experiment (1954)

Answer 8

• aim: to use a field experiment to produce group norms and to measure their effects on the perceptions and judgement of those involved
• results: the existence of another group caused hostility and when collective goals were given cooperation emerged
• conclusion: hostility can arise between 2 groups in conflict and competition for resources

Question 9

Evaluation of sherif et al robbers cave experiment

Answer 9

• G = only a small sample of males were used
• R = careful planning so study can be reproduced
• A = unable to use a study on 11yr old boys to explain world aristocracy’s
• V = was a natural environment but boys were unaware of recording
• E = boys were deceived and didn’t consent

Question 10

Aim, results and conclusion of meeus and raajimakers obedience study (1986)

Answer 10

• aim: to investigate destructive obedience in everyday situations such as job interviews
• results: 92% made all 15 stressful comments
• conclusion: people in an everyday situation will obey to abuse a stranger psychologically

Question 11

Evaluation of meeus and raajimakers obedience study

Answer 11

• G = both males and females of all ages used, only small sample of Dutch population
• R = many other studies have similarly been conducted
• A = can be applied to real life situations e.g job interviews
• V = has ecological validity
• E = more ethical than milgrams study

Question 12

Cross cultural conclusion from milgrams study and meeus and raajimakers study

Answer 12

• concluded that cultural differences were not responsible for the higher levels obedience in the Dutch study (92% vs 65%)

Question 13

Aim, results and conclusion of zimbardos prison experiment (1971)

Answer 13

• aim: to examine whether people would conform to the social roles of a prison guard or prisoner
• results: participants quickly identified in their roles
• conclusion: people quickly conform to social roles, even when the go against their morals

Question 14

Evaluation of zimbardos prison experiment

Answer 14

• G = only male participants were used
• R = participants were screened however zimbardo became attached
• A = its a natural situation so its applicable
• V = one of the guards displayed demand characteristics
• E = right to withdraw was evoked and participants weren’t protected from psychological harm

Question 15

Aim, results and conclusion of tajfel et al minimal group study (1970)

Answer 15

• aim: to test that prejudice and discrimination can occur between minimal groups (groups with no history of competition)
• results: decisions were fairer for ingroup/ingroup and outgroup/outgroup scenarios
• conclusion: out group discrimination is easily triggered

Question 16

Evaluation of tajfel et al minimal group study

Answer 16

• G = only used teenage boys
• R = first experiment used 8 trials, all found similar results
• A = can explain racial prejudice
• V = lacks ecological validity
• E = right to withdraw wasn’t made clear, boys weren’t debriefed