Hofling et al

• Aim


  To see if nurses would follow orders given by an authority figure
• Procedure


  22 real nurses were phones by 'Dr. Smith' and asked to see if they had the drug Astroten in stock

  
  

  The nurses knew that the max dosage was 10mg but were instructed to administer 20mg

  
  

  The drug was a placebo but the nurses thought it was real
• Findings


  21 out of 22 of the nurses were easily influenced into carrying out the orders
• Conclusion


  People are very unwilling to question supposed authority even when they have good reason to
• Positive evaluation


  High ecological validity as it was a field study that reflects real life
• Negative evaluation


  Lack of consent as they didn't know they were in a study so had no protection from harm or right to withdrawal