PSYCHOLOGY

Social Psychology
Responses to people in authority – Milgram
MILGRAM, S. (1963) Behavioural study of obedience
Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 67, (4), 371-378.
3. Research Method
• Although Milgram refers to this study as an experiment, it is generally considered a controlled observation as there was, in fact, no independent
variable.
• The study took place in a laboratory at Yale University so conditions could be controlled eg who was teacher / learner, the learner’s recorded
and thus standardised responses, the experimenter’s ‘prods’.
• Data was gathered through observations made by both the experimenter who was in the same room as the participant and others who
observed the process through one-way mirrors. Most sessions were recorded on magnetic tape, occasional photographs were taken through
the one-way mirrors and notes were made on unusual behaviours.
• Prior to the study, 14 Yale Seniors, all psychology majors, estimated the percentage of participants who would administer the highest level of
shock. Estimates ranged from 1% - 3% (mean 1.2%).
4. Sample
• 40 male participants aged between 20 and 50 years, from the New Haven area were obtained by a newspaper advertisement and direct
mail solicitation which asked for volunteers to participate in a study of memory and learning at Yale University. There was a wide range of
occupations in the sample. Participants were paid $4.50 for simply presenting themselves at the laboratory.
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