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Notes on Milgram's Shock Study 1963, Social Psychology
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Notes on the aim, procedure, results, conclusion and evaluation of Milgram's classic study
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Classic Study: Milgram's Shock Studies (1963)The aim of Milgram's studies was to test the idea that Germans were 'different' which
is why they obeyed Nazi ideology. He wanted to see whether ordinary Americans
would break their ethical code by following orders from authority. He used a sample
of 40 men aged 20-50 years old. The study was a lab experiment.
Participants were given the role of teacher and were told to issue electric shocks
(15-450v) to the learner (a confederate) if they did not recall word pairs. Standardised
prods were said by the experimenter if the teacher did not want to continue.
The study had ethical concerns as participants were deceived into thinking that the
student was a real student and not a researcher, the shocks were not real and the
participants suffered from psychological discomfort.
Milgram's study found that 65% of the sample administered the full 450V. 100% of
the sample reached 300V. However 12.5% of the sample dropped out at this point.
Lots of physical discomfort was observed as the participants experienced moral strain.
+ Standardised lab experiment means it is reliable, valid and replicable
+ Raised ethical awareness
- Lacks population validity and is not generalisable as ppts were voluntary white
males.
- Perry (2012) argued many participants only obeyed because they didn't believe
the shocks to be real.
Variation 7
The experimenter gave telephone instructions to the participants. This reduced
proximity between authority and participants. Only 22.5% fully obeyed as participants
found it easier to disobey as they felt less pressure to obey orders that challenged their
ethical code. Hence, physical presence of authority is important in obedience.
+ High external validity as it was a replication
+ Sedikides and Jackson (1990) new york zoo study
Variation 10
The study took place in a random office block, not a prestigious lab in a university.
47.5% fully obeyed however participants voiced their doubts about the legitimacy of
the study and concerns for the learner. Thus location has an effect on obedience as it
can indicate the legitimacy of an authority figure.
+ Gathered both quantitative and qualitative data
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