Burgers Study (2009)

• Who conducted the contemporary study on obedience, based on Milgram's work?

  Jerry Burger conducted the study, applying Milgram's methodology with ethical improvements.
• What were the 6 ethical improvements in Burger's study?

  • 3 reminders of the right to withdraw.
  • A clinical psychologist supervised all trials, and was told to end it at the first sign of distress.
  • Shocks stopped at 150V to reduce anxiety and make the study more ethical compared to Milgram's original design.
  • 450V sample shock at the start instead of 45V.
  • Immediate debriefing after the study.
  • 2-step screening to eliminate vulnerable participants.
• What were the obedience rates in Burger's (2009) study compared to Milgram's study?

  Obedience rates in Burger's study were 70%, slightly lower than Milgram's 82.5%.
• What did Burger (2009) find about defiant participants in terms of personal control?

  Defiant participants showed a higher desire for personal control, scoring significantly higher on the locus of control questionnaire.
• What conclusions did Burger draw from his study?

  • Milgram’s findings are not era-bound.
  • Lack of empathy is not a valid explanation for high obedience rates.
  • Desire for personal control influences the likelihood of obedience.
• Is Burger's study reliable?

  • Yes, because Milgram’s original procedure is highly replicable.
  • Burger followed Milgram’s script closely and used the same confederates every time, ensuring consistency.
• Is Burger's study valid?

  Ecological validity is still low, as the task is artificial.

  Stopping at 150V may invalidate the assumption that participants would have continued to 450V.
• Is Burger's study ethical?

  Yes, Burger addressed ethical concerns by implementing safeguards like reminders of withdrawal, supervision, and immediate debriefing.
• Is Burger's study ethical?

  • Burger claims his study avoids Milgram’s ethical issues, but deception and lack of informed consent remain concerns.
  • The BPS guidelines state participants must not be distressed, which may still apply here.
• What are the criticisms of Burger's study?

  • Deception and lack of informed consent were still present.
  • The procedure was likely distressing for some participants, despite no extreme reactions.