Burger (2009) Modern Shock Experiment

Whose study did Burger try to replicate?

• Haney et al.

• Piliavin et al.

• Milgram

• Sherif

Which 3 types of participants did Burger screen (checked them) and exclude?

• Learned psychology or may know Milgram's shock experiments

• Age 65+ years old to protect them from stressful procedure

• Low physical/mental health or traumatic childhood experiences

• Clinical psychologists thought they might be negatively affected by the study

Why did Burger pay the $50 to participants BEFORE they started the experiment?

• It is more ethical to give the money first

• So that he would not forget to pay the money

• So participants did not feel the need to keep shocking to get the money

Which 2 ways did Burger change the shock procedure from Milgram's original study?

• The learner said "I told you I had heart trouble. My heart's starting to bother me now. Get me out of here, pls."

• The experiment was ended after 150V shock instead of 450V.

• Prods from the experimenter (eg. "please continue") were changed to sound more modern and natural.

Why did Burger end the experiment after 150V instead of going to 450V?

• Reduce distress for participant (ethics)

• Each test took less time so more participants took part (generalisability)

• To make the situation seem more realistic (validity)

Burger did another test called "Experiment 2 Modelled Refusal Condition". How was this different from the first experiment?

• The "learner" confederate refused to continue the shocks

• The "experimenter" confederate refused to continue the shocks

• A "second participant" confederate refused to continue the shocks

Burger got another confederate to be the "second participant" who refused to shock over 75V because...

• another person can reduce distress for the real participant

• he thought obedience would decrease if participants saw someone else refuse

• the confederate could observe the participant and collect data

Results showed a difference between men and women's obedience level (women are more obedient). True/False?

• True

• False

Results showed that obedience was lower than Milgram's original experiment. True/False?

• True

• False

In Experiment 1- Baseline Condition, ___% showed obedience to 150V, similar to Milgram.

• 60%

• 63.3%

• 65%

• 70%