Milgram's original (1963) study - AO3

Generalisability

Milgram’s (1963) study had low generalisability due to the sample group being androcentric and ethnocentric. Participants were men, aged 21-50 years old, all from New Haven in the USA - an individualistic culture. This is unrepresentative of the entire population, for example females or collectivistic cultures.

Reliability

Milgram’s (1963) study had high reliability as the study was standardised. The study had the same script and prompts, such as “Please continue”, read aloud each time. This allows the study tobe replicated to test for consistency.

Applications

Milgram’s (1963) study has strong applications as 65% of participants fully obeyed and administered the lethal maximum shock, 450V, this can be applied to real-life scenarios, such as The Holocaust. Nazi soldiers viewed Hitler as an authoritative figure and obey him, causing a mass tragedy.

Internal validity

Milgram’s (1963) study has strong internal validity due to the standardised procedure, same prompts and controlled variables each time, such as proximity. This allows a cause (authoritative figure) and effect (extent of obedience) to be established.

Ecological and task validity

Milgram’s (1963) study has low ecological validity, due to the standardised procedure, controlled variables, such as same prompts and instructiosnread aloud each time, therefore, lacking mundane realism. The study also lacks task vanity due to the artificial setting, administering shocks on someone due to an incorrect answer isn’t representative of real- life scenarios.

Ethics

Milgram’s (1963) study has low ethics, as it doesn’t follow the BPS 2009 Guidelines, lack of fully informed consent. Participants were told the study was about the effects of punishment on learning, and not obedience.

Though this was necessary as if participants didn’t know the true aim, they would act more naturally, avoiding demand characteristics and increasing the internal validity.