Bocchiaro

Question 1

Background

Answer 1

Milgram’s study investigated obedience to authority figures, but didn’t look into disobedience to unjust authority.
There has also been little research into the phenomenon known as ‘whistleblowing’

Question 2

Key Terms

Whistleblowing

Answer 2

A whistleblower is a person, often an employee, who reveals information about activity within a private or public organization that is deemed illegal, immoral, illicit, unsafe or fraudulent

Question 3

Aim

Answer 3

To see what people would do if they were confronted with the choice of obeying, disobeying or whistleblowing in a situation when faced with an unjust authority figure who was engaging in unethical behaviour

Question 4

Sample

Answer 4

149 students (96 female, 53 male) with a mean age of 20.8, recruited via flyers in the VU University in Amsterdam offering course credit or 7 euros (self-selecting)ing course credit or 7 euros for participation

Question 5

Procedure

Main Task

Answer 5

Participants met a male Dutch researcher who was formally dressed with a stern demeanor.
They were told a fake story about a previous study on sensory deprivation that had extremely distressing psychological effects on the participants involved. They were then asked to give the names of a few other students who could take part in a recreation of the study.
Next, participants were asked to write a statement convincing those students to take part, in exchange for potential extra work and money. The statements should include specific positive words such as “exciting” and not mention the negative effects.
The participants then were left alone for 7 minutes to write the statements. They also had the option to anonymously report the study to the Ethics committee.

Question 6

Procedure

Possible Responses

Answer 6

Obedient - Writing the statement
Disobedient - Refusing to write the statement
Open Whistleblowing - Reporting the study and refusing to write the statement
Closed Whistleblowing - Reporting the study but still writing the statement (keeping their disapproval secret)

Question 7

Findings

Main Group Results

Answer 7

Obedient - 76.5%
Disobedient - 14.1%
Whistleblowing - 9.4%
OW - 3.4%
CW - 6%

Question 8

Findings

Comparison (Theoretical) Group

Answer 8

Of the 138 comparison participants
Obedient - 3.6%
Disobedient - 31.9%
Whistleblowing - 64.5%

Question 9

Procedure

Personality Measures

Answer 9

Bocchiaro had participants complete 2 personality inventories:
Hexaco - Measures 6 major dimensions of personality
SVO - Measures preferences of outcomes for oneself and others

Question 10

Findings

Personality Results

Answer 10

The personality inventories revealed no new information about the personality of obedient people, but did reveal that whistleblowers tended to have more faith

Question 11

Conclusions

Answer 11

People often think they would do the right thing but when actually put in the scenario they may not.
People with faith may be more likely to be whistleblowers