Examine the Problems That Some Sociologists May Face When Using Different Kinds of Experiments in Their Research.
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- Date Submitted: 02/23/2015 10:11 AM
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Sociologists use two main types of experiments when conducting research. One being laboratory experiments and the other being field experiments and while both can enhance, strengthen and support and sociology theories they both have adverse effects.
One of the biggest problems with many laboratory experiments is how ethically questionable they can be. A prime example of this is one of the most famous sociological experiments ever conducted. Stanley Milgram set up an experiment to study behavioural obedience. In this experiment he had three people involved at one time, one was the real participant who was the ‘teacher’. The other two were confederates who we’re acting as a ‘learner’ and the other as the ‘doctor’. The ‘teacher’ had to read the ‘learner’ a series of two word lines. He then had to ask the ‘learner’ what the second word was from each of these lines from multiple choice lists. He was instructed that each time the ‘learner’ gave a wrong answer the ‘teacher’ must administer an electric shock which was to go up by 15 volts for each incorrect answer. The voltages we’re labelled with the amount and how severe they we’re with the last two being labelled ‘XXX’ with a voltage of 450. Of course the ‘learner’ didn’t actually receive those shocks but there were pre-recorded screams that we’re made and a point that the ‘learner’ became silent. If the ‘teacher’ said they wanted to stop they were told to ‘please carry on’ or ‘it is essential you continue’ by the ‘doctor’. Shockingly over 65% of ‘teachers’ administered the full 450 volts, no participant stopped before 300 volts. Although this may seem like a remarkable way to test people’s obedience, it has an extensive list of ethical issues. The main one being the stress caused to the participants. For some they may be very shy or too weak to be able to say no and while this doesn’t sound like a justifiable excuse, to be in such a tense setting, being overlooked by a doctor can be a very intimidating situation...
One of the biggest problems with many laboratory experiments is how ethically questionable they can be. A prime example of this is one of the most famous sociological experiments ever conducted. Stanley Milgram set up an experiment to study behavioural obedience. In this experiment he had three people involved at one time, one was the real participant who was the ‘teacher’. The other two were confederates who we’re acting as a ‘learner’ and the other as the ‘doctor’. The ‘teacher’ had to read the ‘learner’ a series of two word lines. He then had to ask the ‘learner’ what the second word was from each of these lines from multiple choice lists. He was instructed that each time the ‘learner’ gave a wrong answer the ‘teacher’ must administer an electric shock which was to go up by 15 volts for each incorrect answer. The voltages we’re labelled with the amount and how severe they we’re with the last two being labelled ‘XXX’ with a voltage of 450. Of course the ‘learner’ didn’t actually receive those shocks but there were pre-recorded screams that we’re made and a point that the ‘learner’ became silent. If the ‘teacher’ said they wanted to stop they were told to ‘please carry on’ or ‘it is essential you continue’ by the ‘doctor’. Shockingly over 65% of ‘teachers’ administered the full 450 volts, no participant stopped before 300 volts. Although this may seem like a remarkable way to test people’s obedience, it has an extensive list of ethical issues. The main one being the stress caused to the participants. For some they may be very shy or too weak to be able to say no and while this doesn’t sound like a justifiable excuse, to be in such a tense setting, being overlooked by a doctor can be a very intimidating situation...