Evaluating Milgram

Question 1

What are the 5 reasons why Milgram is an unethical study?

Answer 1

1. Deception - ptps were deceived, they weren’t actually administering real electrical shocks
2. Consent - ptps didnt know the full aims of the study so didn’t fully consent to take part. It wasn’t informed consent
3. Withdraw - ptps were not made aware that they could withdraw, given verbal prods to continue the experiment
4. Observation - ptps were not aware that they were being observed (covert).
5. Protection- ptps were not protected against physical and psychological harm as they were administered a shock of 45V and caused lots of distress, 3 pts had full blown seizures.

Question 2

How does Milgrams study support the individual debate?

Answer 2

Some people are biologically more disobedient

Question 3

How does Milgrams study support the situational debate?

Answer 3

People grow up differently, some people have stricter parents and are more likely to obey authority figures

Question 4

How does Milgrams study link to the science debate?

Answer 4

It is highly controlled e.g. every ptps is given a shock of 45 V, the same audio is used of the learner, same shock generator from 15V to 450V, same room, same experimenter and same verbal prods

Question 5

How does Milgrams study link to the useful debate?

Answer 5

Milgrams study has real world value, horrific moments in history could be seen that ppl were just obeying authority figures (the holocaust).
It has real life applications, it can be used to increase obedience in settings like schools, workplaces and prisons.

Question 6

How has Milgrams study got high validity?

Answer 6

It has got high ecological validity as it is made to feel very real and distressing for the ptps, therefore it is very believable.
It has got high internal validity as it has lots of controls and leads to us better establishing cause and effect.

Question 7

What are 3 weaknesses of Milgrams study?

Answer 7

It is androcentric so is not representative of female obedience
It is ethnocentric as ptps are only from Yale University which is a prestigious university, therefore ptps have a higher cognitive ability and is only from a westernised country
Ptps were recruited via volunteer sampling, therefore a specific group of people may have signed themselves up, e.g. they are interested in money or need money (given $4).