AO3

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Created by
Elena Amobi

Cards (5)

  • a strength is research support for uniform
    -Bickman (1974) conducted a field experiment in New York where confederates dressed in different outfits (a guard’s uniform, a milkman, and a civilian) gave orders to the public.
    -People were twice as likely to obey someone dressed in a guard’s uniform compared to the civilian.-This supports Milgram’s conclusion that uniform conveys authority and increases obedience, adding ecological validity from a real-world setting.
  • Strength: High Control of Variables
    E: Milgram systematically altered one situational variable at a time (e.g., proximity, location, uniform) while keeping all other variables the same.E: This experimental control allows researchers to confidently establish a causal relationship between the situational variable and obedience levels.
    -high internal validity
  • One weakness of situational variables is cultural differences.
    -Smith and Bond (1998) – suggested most of Milgram’s variations were carried out in Western cultures.
    -Therefore, as Milgram’s research was carried out in individualistic cultures, we may be unable to generalise his findings to collectivist cultures which may be more obedient (or for different reasons).
  • -Mandel argues it is offensive to suggest situational variables lead to obedience as it offers an excuse or ‘alibi’ for evil behaviour.
    -It is offensive to survivors of the Holocaust to suggest Nazis were simply following orders and were victims themselves of situational factors
    -As such, research into situational variables is socially sensitive, and can have negative implications on society.
  • One weakness of situational variables is demand characteristics.
    -Orne and Holland – criticised Milgram’s original study arguing ppts knew the procedure was faked.  
    -This is even more likely in the variations due to the extra manipulation.
    -Therefore, this limits the internal validity of Milgram’s variations as natural behaviour may not have been observed, meaning we may not be assessing the impact of the IV on the DV.