Milgram's Study in Psychology

Front

Milgram’s study is part of which approach in psychology, and what are the main assumptions of this approach?

Back

Milgram’s study is part of the social approach, which assumes that behavior, cognitions, and emotions are influenced by social contexts, social environments, groups, and the actual or imagined presence of others.

Front

Although Milgram's study was set in a lab, why is it not considered a true experiment?

Back

Milgram's study is a controlled observation, not an experiment, because it only has a dependent variable (DV) and no independent variable (IV).

Front

How was obedience operationalized as the DV in Milgram's study?

Back

Obedience was measured as the maximum shock voltage each participant was willing to administer before refusing to continue.

Front

Describe the sampling technique used in Milgram’s study.

Back

Milgram used volunteer sampling, where participants self-selected by responding to a newspaper ad and were paid to participate.

Front

What is one strength of using volunteer sampling in Milgram’s study?

Back

Volunteer sampling results in participants who are more motivated and less likely to drop out. In Milgram’s study, many participants continued despite experiencing stress.

Front

What is a key weakness of volunteer sampling in Milgram's study?

Back

It may lack generalizability, as the sample might only represent certain types of individuals. For example, Milgram's sample was composed solely of male Americans, limiting applicability to other demographics.

Front

Describe the sample used in Milgram’s study.

Back

The sample consisted of 40 males aged 20-50 from various occupations in New Haven, USA.

Front

What controls were used in Milgram’s study to ensure consistency?

Back

The procedure was standardized, with all participants experiencing the same equipment, word pairs, and prods in the same order, as well as the rigged drawing for the 'teacher' role.

Front

Why is Milgram’s study considered highly reliable?

Back

The study’s standardized procedures, such as consistent verbal prods and a controlled environment at Yale, allow for easy replication and reduce the influence of extraneous variables.

Front

What is a strength of using quantitative data in Milgram's study?

Back

Quantitative data, like shock levels (ranging from 15V to 450V), allows for objective measurement and comparison across participants, enhancing reliability and minimizing interpretation bias.