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In social psychology you will have learned about one of the following contemporary studies in detail: - Burger (2009) - Reicher and Haslam (2006) - Cohrs et al - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 4 - 2020 - Paper 1
Question 4
In social psychology you will have learned about one of the following contemporary studies in detail: - Burger (2009) - Reicher and Haslam (2006) - Cohrs et al. (20... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:In social psychology you will have learned about one of the following contemporary studies in detail: - Burger (2009) - Reicher and Haslam (2006) - Cohrs et al - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 4 - 2020 - Paper 1
Step 1
Evaluate Burger (2009) in terms of reliability.
Answer
Burger (2009) employed the same four verbal prods throughout the experiment, such as 'please continue', ensuring consistency across participant interactions. This standardisation enhances the reliability of the study as it minimizes variation in the experimental procedure.
Additionally, the laboratory setting and the use of equipment such as an intercom provide controlled conditions that can be replicated in further research. The sample comprised 70 participants, allowing for statistical analysis of the results, making the study more reliable in terms of findings.
The study’s results can be considered reliable as they correlationally align with previous findings in Milgram's original experiments on obedience.
Step 2
Evaluate Burger (2009) in terms of validity.
Answer
To assess the validity of Burger’s (2009) study, we need to consider both ecological and construct validity. The task participants engaged in, which involved electrocuting a learner for incorrect answers, effectively simulated a real-life situation of obedience to authority, thus enhancing ecological validity.
However, concerns regarding the ‘task honesty’, where participants might not truly reflect their behavior due to the artificial nature of the setup, could pose a threat to construct validity. Furthermore, the demographic makeup of the participants included a wide range of ages and both genders, which improves representativeness and generalizability to the broader population. Overall, while the study demonstrates valid aspects in its design, certain limitations could question its overall validity.