AO3 - Evaluation

• Aims and Hypothesis / Sampling

  + Sample contained range of ages, occupations and backgrounds = increase population validity

  + Self selecting sample = take research more serious + clearly given consent

  _ All male sample = beta bias - not easy to generalise to women

  _ Certain people might have volunteered = volunteer bias

  _ Limited pool of sample (New Haven) = harder to generalise to other cultures
• Methodology

  + Measuring volts through observation = objective measure = increase reliability and decrease research bias

  + Interviews allowed open ended answers - ppts could explain reasoning for obedience = increase validity

  _ Observation of verbal and non verbal is open to observer bias = interpret behaviour as bein a result of stress to support = lowers validity

  _ Interviews open to social desirability = explain their reasons to make themselves look better
• Location

  + Researcher controlled for EV's through standardised procedures e.g. same confederate and prods - allowed study to be repeated for reliability e.g. Burger 2009

  
  

  _ Lacks ecological validity as it is not everyday task in an everyday environment, psychology lab too artificial and does not represent real life locations of obedience