Social Psychology

Aim:  To find out why people are obedient to authority figures even when it will cause harm to others.

Procedure:   

• Male participants between 20yrs & 50yrs - volunteer sample advertised in paper for $4+50c carfare at Yale university.
• Ppts paired with confederate (C), drew fixed lots for 'teacher' and 'learner' role. Ppts always teacher.
• C strapped to electrodes in another room.
• Ppts given small shock to see that it was real.
•  Volts went from 15V (slight shock) to 375V (Danger:severe) to 450V (***).
• Ppts read out pair of words that C had to recall, if it was wrong they recieved a shock.
• At 180V C shouted he couldn't stand it, 300V begged to be released, 315V there was silence.

Results:

• All ppts went up to 300V                                65% of ppts shocked up to 450V

• + Normal jobs, normal men.
• - Not generalised to women.
• - Not generalised to other cultures.
• + Well controlled ( same standardised script, lots, volts)
• + Valid because of controls.
• - Low EcoVal.
• - Deception.
• - Debreifed when left.
• + Had RtW at any point and still get paid.
• - No informed consent.
• - Cause stress because of results 

• + Normal jobs, normal men.
• - Not generalised to women.
• - Not generalised to other cultures.
• + Well controlled ( same standardised script, lots, volts)
• + Valid because of controls.
• - Low EcoVal.
• - Deception.
• - Debreifed when left.
• + Had RtW at any point and still get paid.
• - No informed consent.
• - Cause stress because of results 

Aim: To see if nurses would obey doctor's orders even if it meant harming a patient.

Procedure:

• Field experiment.
• 22 nurses alone on different wards.
• Hofling disguised as Dr Smith.
• Phoned nurses, told them to give Mr Jones (confederate) 20 mg of Astroten because he was running late.
• Astroten label said: 5mg capsules, usual dosage: 5mg, max. dose: 10mg.
• Giving him the medication would break 3 major rules:
• 1st: Can't issue drugs if you don't know the doctor.
• 2nd: Exceeded the maximum dosage.
• 3rd: Can't administer drugs if not in written prescription or in person.

Results:

• 21/22 nurses gave Mr Jones the drug.
• 11 said they didn't notice the label.
• 10 said they saw the label but wanted to obey the doctors orders.