Criticisms of the Stanford Prison Experiment: Ethics, Design, and Validity

What ethical concern is raised regarding the treatment of participants in the Stanford Prison Experiment?

Unethical treatment of participants.

What issue was identified with the screening of guards in the Stanford Prison Experiment?

The screening may not have picked up tendencies for sadistic behavior.

What are demand characteristics in the context of the Stanford Prison Experiment?

Subtle cues that make participants aware of what the experimenter expects to find or how they are expected to behave.

What evidence suggests that prisoners may have stayed in the experiment despite wanting to leave?

There is evidence that prisoners thought they would not be paid if they left.

What evidence indicates that the guards were not simply acting on their own but were influenced by training?

There is evidence that the guards were trained in how to behave.

What criticism is made regarding the independent variable in the Stanford Prison Experiment?

The study lacked a clear independent variable.

What was the aim of the Stanford Prison Experiment, and what confusion arose from its design?

The study aimed to create a realistic prison experience, but it mixed realistic elements with unrealistic ones, leading to confusion for participants.

What was a significant issue regarding the reporting of the Stanford Prison Experiment?

The reporting did not acknowledge that it was based on an earlier study.

What claim did Zimbardo make about the data collection in the Stanford Prison Experiment?

Zimbardo claimed that results rested on systematic record keeping and data collection, but there is evidence that only 4% of the experience was filmed.

What concern is raised about the conclusions drawn from the Stanford Prison Experiment?

The conclusions were reportedly pre-written according to non-academic aims.