Similarities and Differences between Milgram's Obedience Study and Burgers Replication - Coursework Example

MILGRAM’S (1963) OBEDIENCE STUDY AND BURGER’S (2009) REPLICATION Part One Introduction For a verylong time, the experiments by Milgram have probably become the renowned in the psy-sciences. It is important that many of the people that have made reference to these experiments have explained that human race has all this attributes of hard information concerning ourselves. In this case, it continues to remain unused in the process of improving the institutions and thus the lives of people. Many psychologists hold the psy-theories provided regarding the experiments by Milgram. In various sections, the experiments by Milgram have been regarded as ideal for the sake of public consumption of the associated psychological research. These experiments are meant for consideration by larger audiences such that the prophylactic and didactic objectives that permeate the entire experiments right from the time they were set up. Currently, these findings have continued to remain relevant, not only in social psychological research activities, but also in different and related fields In research, replicability is a very essential aspect of the commutative science; however, relatively close replication attempts have been reported in most of the psychological researches. It is only in the recent past that researchers have reported very consistently the replications in the online platforms (Burger 2009, 8). It is important to note that in 2006, Jerry Burger, a renowned American psychologist made a slight replication of the work done by Stanley Milgram in terms of obedience and respect for authority (Hodges & Geyer 2006, 128). In arriving at his replications, he allowed few adherences to be made on the contemporary standards of ethics in research. In this case, the results by Burger made a substantial confirmation to the work done by Milgram for a period exceeding forty five years. Comparison of Milgram’s (1963) Obedience Study and Burger’s (2009) Replication Milgram’s studies on obedience, as pointed out before have become arguably the most renowned social psychological researches happening to have happened both within and out of the field. References to the particular studies have continued to surface in many of the popular media, which include songs and movies. Additionally, they have been regarded as a very essential social textbook, which does not comprise the researches that are quite unthinkable. It is important to note that the works of Milgram have received proper descriptions as being demonstrations and not actual experiments (Burger 2002, 9). Additionally, the lack of a proper theoretical model at the beginning of the research stopped the efforts by Milgram in publishing the initial reports concerning his particular investigations (Blass 2004, 57). Irrespective of all these, the specific haunting images relating to participants in administering the electric shocks as well as the implications concerning findings in the comprehension of seemingly the inexplicable events like holocaust, which have been essential in keeping alive various research for many decades (Miller 2004, 87). By digging deeper in the archives, Burger explains that one can effectively locate the various replications made by Milgram’s shock-administration dimension including the research using the various paradigms as well as the measures relating to obedience (11). These studies, according to Burger, documented the different rates of respect and obedience to the authority, which are effectively comparable to the ones shown in the works by Milgram. This makes an important distinction between the works of Burger and Milgram. Most of the experiments done by Milgram were done many decades ago The research on the behavioral obedience to various aspects of authority has often been virtually nonexistent in the recent years. In this case, the research by Milgram can be said to be unparalleled and non debatable as far as obedience to authority is concerned. One of the important aspects that provides important aspects of similarity is that in both of these research activities, obedience of authority is important and evident in many of the social psychological researches. Articulation of common issues It is important to note that several researchers seem to have been intimidated in the process of taking the challenge facing destructive obedience. This is fundamentally due to the works by Milgram, which made assumptions instead of the large aspects of the actual and essence of life. In this case, Burger seems to have made an unprecedented impact on the findings by Milgram in his experiments. In this regard, Burger seems to have eloquently made an anointing on the experiments by Milgram on obedience, as being important aspects of our society in sharing the intellectual legacy. Therefore, it becomes evident that the works by Burger and Milgram seem to have more similarities in the manner in which they address the concept of obedience to authority in the entire society and not on particular activities and process. Therefore, in the process of making comparison to the various kinds of obedience to investigations; it cannot be regarded as a mere process of designing the “follow up” research and study in the particular usual sense. Instead, the particular researchers often enter the veritable universe for controversy and commentary. In this case, the particular generations of the different researchers, in as much as they could be tempted in following the lead and directions as provided by Milgram. In this case, the researchers may seem to have been hesitant in the process of inviting any unprecedented criticisms as well as hostility on the works by Milgram, something that is similar to the research findings by Burger, when making his replications to the research on obedience. Conversely, one can be tempted to think that the particular celebrity status regarding obedience experiments would be in themselves constituting certain powerful inducements needed for having an active and effective research in this particular area. In the same way, Burger notes that social psychologists have a duty to regard obedience to the research ethics. Finally, it is important appreciate that the work of Milgram and Burger have been essential in understanding some of the most important aspect of research in social psychology, something that has continued to influence research activities in these important fields. Many people have, in their research studies and practice have employed the strategies outlined in these journals with various outcomes. Part Two Shortcomings and solutions to challenges in research designs Research designs are essential in setting the ground for understanding some of the relevant and essential aspect of research over different matters. Properly designed research designs often make it easy for researchers to effectively achieve their set objectives; on the other hand, those that do not have proper regard for particular rules for research face various unanticipated drawbacks. One of the shortcomings in a research design like that of (Hodges, & Geyer 2006), relates to the manner in which selection for elements and respondents in a research activity are made. Poor selection of elements and respondents in a psychological or scientific research can end up jeopardizing the outcomes of the particular research. The solution for solving the aspects of selection requires that the concerned researchers examine the most reliable ways in which they can select their respondents and other necessary elements. As far as Hodges, & Geyer (2006) is concerned; additionally, another important shortcoming relating to case studies that are qualitative in nature relates to the manner in which they are sensitivity to the investigators and their actual integrity. It is important to understand that research, at all times should be effective in data collection and analysis. In this case, the investigator should depend on his or her instincts and other abilities in the course of the research process. As a solution to the sensitivity issue with regards to the research designs, the researcher has to ensure that he makes reference to the laid down ethical standards in research. Bibliography Blass, T. 2004. The man who shocked the world: the life and legacy of Stanley Milgram. Basic Books, New York. Burger, J. M. 2009. Replicating Milgram: Would people still obey today? American Psychologist, Vol 64. No. 1, 1–11. Hodges, B. H., & Geyer, A. L. 2006. A nonconformist account of the Asch experiments: Values, pragmatics and moral dilemmas. Personality and Social Psychology Review, Vol 10. No. 5, 2–19 Miller, A. G. 2004. What can the Milgram obedience experiments tell us about the Holocaust? Generalizing from the social psychology laboratory. Guilford Press, New York. Read More