Summary sheet of the core studies for OCR AS psychology that are need for AS and A Level. They describe the basics of each study as well as ethical considerations in the study. Also shows strengths and weaknesses of reliability and validity within the core study.
Background Validity
Wanted to research WW2 and the holocaust as he believed no one could +Population validity as all ppts were male, which represented Milgram’s
commit such inhumane acts just by obeying despite it contradicting their own target population of Nazi soldiers, who were all male.
morals and beliefs.
-Population validity as there is a gender bias as there was 40 male ppts from
the USA.
-Lack ecological validity as it took place in a laboratory in Yale University so
Aim Method
there were high levels of control.
To investigate obedience by -Controlled Observation
seeing how far a ppt will obey -Lab at Yale University so it could be -Lacks ecological validity as shocking someone is not a natural occurrence
orders from an authority controlled. and outside of someone’s everyday life.
figure. -Data was gathered through one way mirror
-Predicted 1-3 % would obey (450v).
Sample Reliability
Milgram
40 male ppts aged between 20-50 from USA. +Inter-rater reliability as they are being observed through a one-
-By newspaper advertisement and direct mail solicitation way mirror.
asking to participate in memory tasks.
-Paid $4.50 for taking part. +Internal reliability roles were fixed so ppt was always given role of
teacher, who administered shocks.
Procedure +Internal as screams from learner were recorded, so were played to
-Always teacher (fixed lottery) every ppt, increases control.
-Voltage increased for every wrong answer (15 to 450v)
-Experimenter gave prods if there was hesitation
-Finished when there was refusal or reached 450v.
Conclusions Results
Ethics
-Inhumane acts can be done by -All went to 300v.
-Deception = ppts were told they were taking part in a memory task but were
ordinary people. -65% went about
deceived to 450v.
shocking confederate.
-People will obey legitimate -14 disobeyed.
-Gave informed consent as they volunteered.
authority figures. -Many showed extreme
-Confidentiality was not breeched.
-Individual differences influence stress, shaking,
- Exposed sweating, harm because ppts were distressed.
to psychological
the extent people will be nervous laughter.
-Debriefed = Many were positive as they felt they had learned something.
obedient.
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