Cognitive psy-week 1 - Essay Example

Milgram’s classic yet controversial experiment illustrates people's reluctance to confront those who abuse power. He uses research methods tools like controlled observation and case study to find underlying causes to investigate the psychological effects on individuals who are pressurized to act in a way that they personally might not approve of. References Milgram, S. (1974). Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View. New York: Harper and Row. . Compare and contrast the methods, and highlight their relative strengths and weaknesses.

There are several advantages of adopting a case study method to conduct research. Firstly through the use of this method there is sufficient room for the researcher to explore solutions for situations that are complex in nature. They aid in providing a focus on specific characteristics and enable the accumulation of a wide range of data which results not only in the development of analytic and problem solving skills but also adds on to the strength of previously conducted research (Sternberg, 2009).

However one weakness could be inaccuracy or inconclusive results if insufficient information is present. Another weakness can be if observed too closely the subjects might change their behavior. To combat this very weakness Milgram introduced the research tool of controlled observation which helped the manipulation of variables to induce situations which the researcher is most interested in. One disadvantage, one which is also a criticism of Milgram’s study, is that of a lack of ecological validity.

This according to Sternberg (2009), is a key ingredient which determines the scope, relevance and practical application of a experiment. References Brown, R. (1986). Social Forces in Obedience and Rebellion. Social Psychology: The Second Edition. New York: The Free Press Sternberg, R. (2009). Cognitive psychology (5th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning. Assignment # 4 Respond to at least one of your colleagues' postings who chose a method different from the one you wrote about. The breech in social class leading to a disparity in facilities and the aid provided for academic success resulting in such a huge gap in scores of the two social classes is indeed a commendable observation.

The fact that this observation is verified with the provision of the facts by the Department of Education adds an element of validity to this observation. The controlled experiment design suggested is well developed and naturalistic observation would give the experiment an essence of ecological validity. Furthermore the detailed compare and contrast of the two methods is a reflection of the clear understanding of what these two research tools entail. The research suggested compels an individual to question if IQ isn’t the key factor determining intelligence what really is?

Also are aiding facilities provided in the educational institutes and an individual’s personal life that critical in determining academic