Zimbardo AO3

Question 1

Strength of Zimbardo’s Research (Practical Applications)

Answer 1

Zimbardo’s findings have been applied to improve prison management, with greater focus on ethical treatment of prisoners and training for guards to prevent abuse of power.

Question 2

Strength of Zimbardo’s Research (High Internal Validity)

Answer 2

The study had high internal validity because participants were carefully selected as emotionally stable and randomly assigned to roles, reducing individual differences as an explanation for behaviour.

Question 3

Weakness of Zimbardo’s Research (Ethical Issues)

Answer 3

The study is heavily criticised for ethical issues, including lack of informed consent, psychological harm (emotional distress), and Zimbardo’s dual role as both researcher and prison superintendent.

Question 4

Weakness of Zimbardo’s Research (Role of Dispositional Factors)

Answer 4

Zimbardo’s emphasis on situational factors (power of the situation) is criticised for ignoring dispositional factors (individual personality), as not all guards were abusive.