Explain how Milgram's research sequence demonstrates the complementary use of experimental and non-experimental research. In your explanation, identify which part of his work represents the non-experimental phase, which represents the experimental phase, and how the two phases combined to deepen our understanding of obedience.
Case context: In his research on obedience, Stanley Milgram first conducted a study where he observed the extent to which participants obeyed an authority figure when told to shock a confederate, with all participants performing the same task under the same conditions. He later conducted studies in which he systematically manipulated independent variables, such as the physical distance between the experimenter and the participant, and the location of the study.
Question: Explain how Milgram's research sequence demonstrates the complementary use of experimental and non-experimental research. In your explanation, identify which part of his work represents the non-experimental phase, which represents the experimental phase, and how the two phases combined to deepen our understanding of obedience.
Sample answer: Milgram's research demonstrates the complementary use of both approaches. His original study was non-experimental because he did not manipulate any variables; he simply observed and described obedience behavior as it naturally occurred under a single condition. His subsequent studies were experimental because he systematically manipulated independent variables (like physical distance and location). The non-experimental phase established and described the phenomenon of obedience, while the experimental phase investigated the causal mechanisms by determining which specific factors influenced the variations in obedience.
Key points:
- Milgram's initial study was non-experimental because it observed obedience under a single, uniform condition without manipulating variables.
- Milgram's subsequent studies were experimental because they systematically manipulated independent variables (e.g., distance, location).
- The two phases are complementary because the first describes the behavior naturally and the second uncovers the causal mechanisms driving changes in the behavior.
Rubric: The response should correctly identify the first phase as non-experimental (observing behavior under a single set of conditions) and the subsequent phase as experimental (manipulating independent variables). It must explain that the non-experimental phase serves to describe the phenomenon, while the experimental phase uncovers the causal factors that drive the behavior.
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Example of Complementary Use of Experimental and Non-Experimental Research: Milgram's Studies
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