Situational variables

Proximity

• experimenter not in room and gave orders over phone: more likely to resist. (20.5%)

• less guilty when we cant see consequences of our actions.

Location

• conducted experiment in rundown office in connecticut instead of lab. Obedience dropped to (47.5%)

• more obedient in more formal locations

Uniform

• experimenter wore normal clothes instead of a lab coat. Obedience dropped to 20%.

• we respect those in legitimate uniform more.

strengths

• control of variables: by altering variables one at a time we can clearly see certain change in obedience caused by manipulated variable. (increase internal validity).

limitations

• Research to support: Bickman: milkman, security guard, jacket and tie.Asked ppt to pick up litter and ppt who were asked by security guard were more likely to do it.