Evals of Milgrim’s research

• Strength: Research Support

  • Hofling et al (1966) studied obedience in a hospital. Nurses were asked by an authority figure to give a potentially dangerous dose of an unfamiliar drug to a patient. 95% of nurses (21 out of 22) followed this order.
  • The nurses obeyed the order because they were asked to do so by a doctor who is an authority figure who is credible and legitimate.
  • Therefore, this shows that Milgram's research is supported by other research findings and in real life settings, Milgram's findings have been shown to be valid
• Weakness: Lacks Population validity

  • For example, Milgram’s study used only male participants from the USA.
  • This means his sample was gender biased and unrepresentative of females and the general population. Therefore, the results cannot be applied to females or any other cultures because the sample consisted solely of Americans males. Additionally, collectivist cultures may have had lower levels of obedience because they care more about others.
  • Therefore, this reduces the validity of Milgram's research because his sample was lacking population validity
• Weakness: Lacks internal validity

  • Orne and Holland (1968) criticised Milgram’s study and suggested that participants were 'going along with the act' when they administered the electric shocks. Participants didn't really believe in the set up, they guessed it wasn't real electric shocks.
  • Many of the participants actually expressed their doubts about the shocks. Thus they were not naturally obeying but instead choosing to co-operate. So, This means Milgram may have not tested what he intended to study.
  • Therefore, this decreases the internal validity of the study
• Weakness: Ethical Concerns

  • Milgram's study contained deception because participants were deceived, which questions the extent to which correct informed consent was obtained. The right to withdraw wasn't really provided to participants because they were given verbal prompts to make them stay, participants were subjected to psychological harm because they were exposed to extremely stressful situations.
  • These ethical concerns present in Milgram's research question the credibility of such research.
  • Therefore, this reduces the validity of Milgram's findings