Bocchiaro

• What was the aim of Bocchiaro's 2012 study?

  To investigate obedience, disobedience, and whistle-blowing in ethically wrong situations.
• Why was it important to investigate the accuracy of people's estimates in Bocchiaro's study?

  To understand how well individuals perceive their own and others' behaviors regarding obedience.
• What role did dispositional factors play in Bocchiaro's study?

  They were investigated to see how they influenced obedience, disobedience, and whistle-blowing.
• How many undergraduate students participated in the main study of Bocchiaro's research?

  149 undergraduate students.
• What method was used to recruit participants for Bocchiaro's study?

  Participants were recruited via flyers placed around the cafeteria.
• What compensation did participants receive for taking part in the study?

  Participants were either paid 7 Euros or given course credit.
• How many participants were removed from the initial sample of Bocchiaro's study?

  11 participants were removed.
• What are pilot studies and why were they conducted in Bocchiaro's research?

  • Pilot studies are preliminary tests to assess methodology.
  • 8 pilot studies were conducted to ensure moral acceptability and credibility.
  • Post-pilot interviews confirmed participants believed the cover story.
• What ethical considerations were taken into account in Bocchiaro's study?

  Participants were informed of the task, risks, and their right to withdraw at any time.
• What was the first task participants were asked to do in Room 1 of the procedure?

  Participants were asked to provide names of other students.
• What was the cover story given to participants in Bocchiaro's study?

  Participants were asked to write a supporting statement for research about sensory deprivation.
• What did participants do in Room 2 of the procedure?

  Participants completed the supporting statement and could report anonymously.
• What personality inventories were used in Bocchiaro's study?

  HEXACO-PI-R and Social Value Orientation (SVO).
• What does the HEXACO-PI-R measure?

  It measures six major dimensions of personality including honesty-humility and emotionality.
• How were participants rated in the Social Value Orientation (SVO) inventory?

  Participants were classified as pro-social, individualistic, or competitive based on their preferences.
• What happened after participants completed the inventories?

  Participants were probed for suspicion and then debriefed.
• How long did the experiment last for each participant?

  Approximately 40 minutes.
• What were the individual and actual results regarding obedience, disobedience, and whistle-blowing?

  Individual results:

  • Obedient: 3.6%
  • Disobedient: 31.9%
  • Whistle blow: 64.5%

  
  

  Actual results:

  • Obedient: 76.5%
  • Disobedient: 14.1%
  • Whistle blow: 9.4%
• What did participants tend to do when obedient versus disobedient in terms of responsibility?

  Participants externalized responsibility when obedient but not when disobedient.
• What are the main conclusions drawn from Bocchiaro's study?

  • People are poor judges of their own and others' behavior regarding obedience.
  • Non-violent immoral acts can be committed by ordinary individuals in response to authority.
  • Whistleblowing is a less common but valid response to authority.
  • Individual moral responsibility may mediate these effects.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of Bocchiaro's research design?

  Strengths:

  • Strict control over extraneous variables.
  • Clear cause and effect relationship established.

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Ethical issues may cause distress to participants.
  • Findings may be culture-bound due to participant demographics.
• Why is it important to conduct a cost-benefit analysis in research like Bocchiaro's?

  To assess whether the ethical costs are balanced against the benefits of improved knowledge.
• How did the pilot studies contribute to the validity of Bocchiaro's research?

  They ensured standardization of experimenter-authority behavior and tested materials and procedures.