Studied by 1 person
Research method
Controlled observation
Sampling technique
Self-selecting via newspaper adverts and leaflets
Sample
40 males aged 20-50. Range of occupations
Advertised aim
Study of learning and memory
Actual aim
Study of destructive obedience to an authority figure
The learner
"Mr Wallace" a confederate
Learning task
Recalling word pairs
Teachers instructions for wrong answer
Give shock, state correct answer, 15v increase each time
Procedure if teacher tries to stop
Verbal prods e.g. "Please continue", "the experiment requires that you continue"
At 300 volt shock level what does learner do?
Kicks the wall
After 300 volt shock level what does learner do?
No more answers given
All participants go up to
300 volts
65% (26) go up to
450 volts
Sample shock given to teacher
45 volts
What happens at the end of the study
Participants are debriefed and reunited with Mr Wallace
What self report question were P's asked at the end
"On a scale of 1 to 14, 1 being no pain and 14 being extremely painful, how painful were the last shocks you administered?"
Average pain rating given
13.42
Qualitative findings
P's sweated, shook, grimaced, had nervous laughter
Note 
Flashcard (75)