Reference no: EM133668312
Social Psychology - Obey at Any Cost (Milgram, 1963)
Questions
1. What is the context of the study? Here consider what inspired this study. Was it a recent event? Were the researchers trying to demonstrate a new way of thinking or explaining human behaviour? Make sure to consider the time period as well as what was currently known about psychology and human behaviour at this time. (Most of the information here can be found in the opening section of the Hock book, under the title but before the theoretical proposition.)
2. What was the researchers question? Here want to consider what it was they were trying to investigate. In some readings this will be clearly stated in others it will be more subtle or phrased as a hypothesis or prediction. (Most of the time can find this information in the 'Theoretical Propositions' section.)
3. How did they go about answering their question? Here consider the method. BUT remember do not need to rewrite the method word for word, this is a summary where only have to highlight the MOST important information. A good strategy for summarising methods, in a more general fashion, is to read the method carefully and then close your book (or switch tabs on your computer). Then describe the method as remember it. Sure you may miss some details but you will be creating a general description and that is what we need to see.
4. What were the most important findings? Did they discover something new? Did their findings change the way we thought about something? Did they highlight something potentially concerning or worrisome about human behaviour? Alternatively, did they enlighten us more?
5. Why is this study so important? Every study in this book supposedly has influenced psychology. How did this study do so. Sometimes this is due to brand new findings and discoveries! Sometimes this is due to questionable methods or ethics. Sometimes it is a combination of both. Here I want you to consider, why it is we are making you read this study and consider how it has influenced our practice and thinking today.