Burger (2009)

• What was different in Burgers replication of Milgram's study from the original study?

  'New baseline condition' - learner had a serious heart condition
• What was the 'point of no return'?

  If the participants pass the 150v point they are likely to carry on up to 450v. Learner shouts about his heart condition at 150v.
• How did Burger prevent psychological harm?

  He did a screening of participants prior to the experiment and excluded 38% of volunteers

  Stopped at 150v
• How did Burger approach the ethical guideline of deception?

  >Cost vs Benefit - Burger had a bigger benefit, more relevant

  >Debrief - Immediately told no one was shocked
• Who approved Burgers study in regard to ethics?

  Santa Clara Univeristy
• What was the aim of Burgers study?

  >Whether Milgram's findings were era-bound

  >Whether obedience is affected by gender

  >Compare findings

  >Empathetic concern

  >Less obedience if refusal is modeled by someone else
• What was the procedure of Burger's study?

  >Adverts in newspapers, adverts, libraries, etc.

  >Screened for mental health problems, taken 2 or more psychology classes or being aware of Milgram's study

  >70 participants (29 male & 41 female)

  >Condition 1 - Same as Milgram's study, learner mentioned heart condition at 150v

  >Condition 2 - Modeled refusal, 2 teachers, at 90v first teacher asked other teacher for advice
• What were the results of Burger's study?

  >Condition 1 - 70% continued post 150v, 82.5% continued in Milgrams study

  >Condition 2 - 63.3% continued

  >Similar levels of obedience, situation is important
• What was Burger's conclusion?

  >Not era-bound

  >Not a significant difference between gender

  >Not affected by empathetic concern

  >Was affected by desire for control

  >Milgram's results are still valid
• Evaluate Burger's study? (ROSIE G)

  R - Increased reliability due to comparing his results to Milgram's

  I - Difficult to check internal validity due to other variables of the situation (like the researcher being in the room)

  E - Lower ecological validity, lab experiment

  G - Unrepresentative sample as volunteers were discarded based on the criteria
• What were the ethical issues with regards to Burger's study?

  >Screened

  >Told they could withdraw

  >Avoided unnecessary distress

  >Passed by ethics board at Santa Clara university

  >Benefits overrode costs
• What did Burger find in regards to psychology over time?

  >Obedience levels remain high in American citizens

  >The situation is still a power factor