Evaluating Zimbardo

• what was the behaviour of the guards like in zimbardo's exp?

  • varied dramatically, from extremely sadistic behaviour to a few good guards who helped prisoners.
  • situational factors only play a part, not the whole story.
• stanford prison exp-

  • could a person's role influence their behaviour?
  • exp was a simulation- similarities to real life.
• strengths of the exp?

  • zimbardo claimed no one suffered long-term mental issues as a result of the exp.
  • raised important q's about psychology, e.g. how far should psychologists go when doing their research.
  • raised important q's about the prison system.
• weaknesses of the exp?

  • clear ethical issues- abuse of power.
  • 8612 had a breakdown and was encouraged to leave.
  • r' bias- zim was the prison super-intendent in the exp.
  • more like an improvisation activity & drama/play than an exp.
  • ethno & andocentric.
  • guards were encouraged to behave/act in a certain way, similar to behaviour seen in a spanish prison- so not original behaviours.
• how did zim use a self-selecting method to gather his p's? what are the strengths and limitations of this method?

  • perhaps certain kinds of personalities apply to adverts (p' variables, weakness).
  • screened p's using personality tests & interviews. only those psychologically & physically healthy w/no history of crime & mental illness selected (weakness).
• what research method was used by zimbardo? how do we know?

  • controlled observation, stimulated field exp/lab exp in a naturalistic setting.
  • how do we know this:

  - controlled environment, study took place in a stiumlated prison in a basement at stanford uni.

  - variables were controlled, p's randomly assigned to roles.

  - observation based data collection- qualitative, taking notes directly when observing behaviour.

  - no manipulation of IV, observed ho p's responded naturally to their roles, more observational than experimental.
• how does the term 'researcher bias' apply to zim's study? how could he have controlled for r' bias?

  • r' bias as zim was the prison superintendent.
  • allegedly instructed the guards to acts tough & be strict on prisoners which would have provided evidence for his aim as it proves deindividuation.
  • to control r' bias, non p' observation would have been better.