Psychology Week 2 - Milgram, Variations, Lab and Field Experiments, IV, DV and Hypotheses

Lab Experiment

An experiment which:

- is controlled
- takes place in an artificial setting
- is standardised
- has variables which can be manipulated to establish a cause and effect relationship

Field Experiment

An experiment which:

- takes place in a real life setting
- has an independent variable that can be manipulated
- is not controlled or standardised

Lab Experiment Strengths

- Less extraneous variables which increases validity, as we can establish a cause and effect relationship.
- Experiment is standardised so it can easily be repeated, which increases reliability.

Lab Experiment Weaknesses

- Higher chance of demand characteristics, which impacts validity as people are not acting as they usually would.
- Lacks ecological validity, as it does not mirror a real life situation.

Field Experiment Strengths

- High ecological validity, behaviour is more accurate as setting mirrors a real life environment.
- Less chance of demand characteristics, which increases validity.

Field Experiment Weaknesses

- More chance of extraneous variables as it is not standardised, which decreases validity.
- Higher chance of ethical issues, such as consent, or deception.
- Less reliable as experiment cannot be replicated,

Milgram's Variations #7 - Telephone Instructions

Aim: Does proximity affect obedience?
Method:
- 40 participants
- Experiment begins exactly like original
- Instead of an experimenter, there is a telephone
- Instructions and prods are given over the telephone
Results: Obedience was only 22.5%, and many lied about increasing the shocks.
Conclusion: Proximity to an authority figure DOES affect obedience.

Milgram's Variations #10 - Run Down Office

Aim: Does location affect obedience?
Method:
- 40 participants recruited by mail-shot
- Experiment was moved from Yale, to a run-down, sparsely furnished commercial office
- Experiment was conducted by 'Bridgeport Research Associates'
- Everything else was kept the same
Results: Obedience was 48%, and the credentials of the company were questioned.
Conclusion: Perceived prestige DOES affect obedience.

Milgram's Variations #13 - Ordinary Man

Aim: Does perceived authority affect obedience?
Method:
- 20 participants
- A confederate was 'making notes'
- The examiner did not tell participants to increase voltage
- When the examiner left, the confederate suggested increasing the shock level, and swapping places.
Results: Obedience was only 20%, and some participants physically restrained the confederate.
Conclusion: Perceived authority DOES affect obedience.

Independent Variable

The thing that is manipulated.

Dependent Variable

The thing that is measured.

Null Hypothesis

A prediction that the IV will NOT impact the DV.

Directional Hypothesis

A prediction which states what the change will be.

Non-directional Hypothesis

A prediction which says there will be a change, but in either direction.