Evaluation Milgram

• Generalisability

  This study has reasonable generalisability as the sample size is 40. The participants were between the range of 20 and 50 years old and the participants come from a variety of occupations.

  However, there were no women involved and the study was ethnocentric.

  • Only white caucasian males , with a high economic status as they where seniors at yale .
• Reliability

  This study’s reliability is good as they used a standardized procedure for testing the participants which can easily be reproduced.

  A script for the audiotape and the prods are available for replication
• Application

  Very useful in helping to understand destructive obedience.

  Potential for reforming the army, police, prisons etc…
• Validity

  Validity is reasonable in this study as it appears effective in terms of its stated aims. (face validity) 

  Inferences can legitimately be made from the operationalizations in this study to the theoretical constructs on which those operationalizations were based. (construct validity)

  But low in ecological validity, this is not a mundane task
• Ethics

  Deception in terms of what the study was about and whether the shocks were real.

  Ethics are low as several participants suffered during the study with stress. Protection of the participant’s state of mind and they would not exit the study in the same mental state they entered in.

  The right to withdraw might not have been there as prods were used.
• Standarization

  Milgram had the same instructions or prods for the teachers the prods where told by the examiner when the teacher was complaining and wanted to withdrawal.