Obedience

Core Study

Bickman 1974

Core Study – Bickman (1974)

BATs

ALL Outline Bickman’s research into obedience and the power of uniform (E)

MOST - Plan and collect data on a replication of Bickman’s research

Outline limitations of Bickman's experiment (C)

SOME Explain limitations of Bickman’s research (A)

What makes someone obey?

• Setting

• Number of people around (consensus)

• Culture

• Does the appearance of a person in authority make a difference?

Can you identify these uniforms?Who are you most likely to obey?

Over to you ...Read pages 55-56 Core Study or your topic

booklet

Create a story board or mind map – there are pictures to help you

Stretch and ChallengeWhy did each person

have to dress up in each costume?

Or Fill in the Study Summary Sheet for Bickman's Field experiment

Bickman 1974

Aim – Does appearance affect how people obey others?

Procedure – • Field experiment• 3 male experimenters – each took it in turn

to dress as a civilian (jacket and tie), milkman, guard uniform (looked like a police officer)

• Gave orders to 153 random pedestrians on a street in Brooklyn, New York

Why did each person have to dress up in

each costume?

What were the orders?

• Picking up litter – ‘Pick up this bag for me.’

• Coin and parking meter – ‘This man is overparked at the meter but doesn’t have any change – give him a dime.’

• Bus Stop – ‘Don’t you know you have to stand on the other side of the pole? This sign says “No Standing”.’

Findings of Bickman’s study

ObedienceRate (%)

Type of Uniform

89%

57%

33%

Conclusion

• Demonstrated the power of certain types of uniform.

• Dress can suggest authority.

• When people think someone will punish them, they are more likely to obey.

Do as you are told – or

else!!

Core Study – Bickman (1974)

BATs

ALL Outline Bickman’s research into obedience and the power of uniform (E)

MOST - Plan and collect data on a replication of Bickman’s research

Outline limitations of Bickman's experiment (C)

SOME Explain limitations of Bickman’s research (A)

Limitations of the Experiment?

Discuss the above question in pairs.

Jot down your best idea on the whiteboard

Which were the best ideas and why?

Can you explain why this is a limitation? (A)

Limitations of Bickman’s StudyThere was a lack of control over variables……factors such as crowding, weather and noise could have

affected obedience rates.

The study was unethical…… because participants had not given consent and may have been caused distress, embarassment and

discomfort.

The confederates (wearing the uniform) were all men…

… so there may have been a gender bias in results – would people react the same to women in uniforms?

Limitations of Bickman’s Study

• Pedestrians were selected by opportunity sampling –

• The personality or circumstances of the participants were not known. They might have been in a hurry, depressed or just absent-minded

• The study was only carried out in one city in one country –

• There is evidence that Culture affects obedience levels. So we can’t be sure if passers by from other cities or countries would be as obedient. Culturally Biased research

Add the limitations to the summary sheet

Over to you …• Imagine you were going to try to recreate

Bickman’s Field Experiment in school

• How could we do this?

• Use the planning sheet to help you.

• How could you improve on Bickman's experiment and ensure the findings would be valid and reliable?

Peer Assessment Activity

Look at another group's plan

Would their plan give valid and reliable results?

Would it be ethical?

Give constructive feedback …

2 stars (good points) and a wish (how could they improve?)

Analysing Data• You are going to see the results of an

experiment done previously in Y10

• One person was dressed in prefect uniform and the other was in normal Y10 uniform

• 10 people were asked to pick up litter in each condition

Number of students who obeyed a normal y10

Number of students who obeyed the 'Prefect'

1 3

Analysing Data

• Find the percentage obedience rate of each condition

• number of those who obeyed x 100

total number of people tested

• Draw a bar chart of your data

Can you come to the

same conclusion as

Bickman?

Extension

• In 3s create one street scene each from Bickman’s study

• Make a comic strip with cartoon and speech bubbles or do a role play

• Some pictures are available for you to use.

Plenary

• Share your cartoon – who did the best one? Why?

Homework 3Answer questions 1-8

Stretch and Challenge – have a go at the

experiment you planned and collect data