One of the issues with Milgram’s research was that it appeared to participants that they were harming another (the learner) by delivering an electric shock. Do you agree that participants were harmed – psychologically or physically? Should participants be allowed to feel NO anxiety or distress as a result of a study, or does that undermine the purpose of the research?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The experimental procedure had four simple steps: (1) A series of word pairs were read by the research subject, such as blue box, nice day, wild duck, and so on. (2) One of the first words from those pairs and a set of four words, one of which contained the original paired word were then read. For example, “blue: sky ink box lamp” might be read. (3) The “pretend” learner stated the word that he though was paired with the first word read (“blue”). If he gave a correct response, he was complimented and the game continues. If he made a mistake, a switch was flipped on the console. The research subject assumed that this caused the learner to feel a shock on his wrist. (4) After each mistake, the next switch was flipped on the console, progressing from left to right. There was a label corresponding to every fifth mark on the dial, with the first mark labeled slight shock, the fifth mark labeled moderate shock, the tenth strong shock, and so on through very strong shock, intense shock, extreme intensity shock, and danger: severe shock. Subjects were told to increase the shocks over time and many did so, even after the supposed “students,” behind a partition, began to cry out in (simulated) pain. The participants became very tense and some resisted as the shocks increased to the (supposedly) lethal range, but many still complied with the authority in that situation and increased the shocks. Like Zimbardo, Milgram debriefed participants afterward and followed up later to check on their well-being. It seemed that none had suffered long-term harm.
As we discuss how the ACJS Code of Ethics standards apply to Milgram’s experiments, you will begin to realize that there is no simple answer to the question “What is (or isn’t) ethical research practice?” The issues are just too complicated and the relevant principles too subject to different interpretations. But we do promise that by the end of this chapter, you will be aware of the major issues in research ethics and be able to make informed, defensible decisions about the ethical conduct of social science research.