Milgram’s study of obedience

What was the aim of the study?

Find out whether people will obey orders even when unjust and may go against their conscience

How many people were used?

40 male volunteers

Where did the procedure take place?

Yale University

How did he gain presumptive consent?

By asking students and participants how far they would go

What happened in the experiment

Participant had to read out word pairs. If the confederate got it wrong the participant (teacher) was to give an electric shock of 15 volts and increase by 15 each time.

What happened after 300 volts?

The learner would protest and start banging on the wall

How many prods were they given

4

How many participant went up to 300 volts?

100%

How many went up to 400 volts?

65%

What was the conclusion of the experiment?

People obey authority due to situational factor and not dispositional factors

Explain internal validity as a strength

High level of control, procedure was the same for all participants. Improves internal validity and improves replicability

Explain real life application as a strength

Helps us understand real life obedience to authority. Milgram’s findings aren’t just limited to a lab setting but broader usefulness. Eg holocaust

Explain low ecological validity as a limitation

Giving electric shocks to a stranger is artificial. Results may not affect real life obedience. However, Hofling found nurses who were asked by unknown doctors on the phone to administer high dose of drug. 21 out of 22 nurses obeyed

Explain ethical issues as a limitation

Participants were deceived about true aim of study. They couldn’t leave easily and participants felt distressed. Lack of protection from harm and right to withdraw