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| Specifics on Milgram's Research Milgram began his experiment by advertising for men from all professions to participate in a study at Yale. His original study had forty participants. They participants came from all educational and professional backgrounds. They were all paid for their participation upfront and were told that they could leave at any time during the experiment and still keep the money. The experimenter then introduced the participant to his confederate who was posing as a second participant. The confederate was a 47-year old man who was described as being mild-mannered and likable. The experimenter explained that the research was on memory and learning and that one fo the participants would play the role of teacher and the other of learner. As was prearranged, the real participant was always given the role of teacher. The teacher was told of the successful shocks he would be asked to administer and was given a sample shock so that he could understand that the shocks were real. At no point was the participant forced to continue with the experiment. If the participant showed hesitation and questioned the methods, the experimenter responded with a sequence of "prods", using as many as was necessary to get the participant to continue. The experimenter could repeat the sequence as many times as necessary, but it was always in the same order. Prod 1: Please continue, or Please go on. Prod 2: The experiment requires that you continue. Prod 3: It is absolutely essentional that you continue. Prod 4: You have no other choice. You must go on. It was only when one prod had been used that the next could be said. If the participant refused to go on after Prod 4 had been used, the experiment was concluded. It was noted that the experimenter's voice was firm, but never impolite. Each time the participant showed hesitation, the sequence was repeated. Special Prods If the participant asked if the learner could possibly suffer permanent damage, the experimenter responded with: Although the shocks may be painful, there is no permanent tissue damage, so please go on. (Followed by Prods 2, 3, and 4 if necessary). If the participant said that the learner did not seem to want to continue with the experiment, the experimenter responded: Whether the learner likes it or not, you must go on until he has learned all the word pairs correctly. So please go on. (Followed by Prods 2, 3, and 4 if necessary). (Milgram, 1969). |
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