Pearson Edexcel International A Level · Psychology (YPS01)

Obedience: theories and Milgram's research: Practice Questions

5 multiple-choice questions marked as you go, and 5 written questions with worked solutions. All on Obedience: theories and Milgram's research.

10 questions24 marksFree, no account
Question 1
1 mark

According to Milgram's original research and variations, which of the following best describes the agentic state?

Question 2
1 mark

A psychology student wants to conduct a practical investigation on conformity for their Social Psychology coursework. They decide to recruit participants by placing a sign in the college canteen asking for volunteers. Which sampling technique is being used?

Question 3
1 mark

According to Milgram’s Agency Theory, what term describes the unpleasant emotional state experienced when an individual is asked to carry out an order that goes against their moral judgment, but they feel unable to resist authority?

Question 4
1 mark

In Milgram's variation Experiment 7 (telephonic instructions), how did the physical proximity of the experimenter affect the obedience levels of the participants?

Question 5
1 mark

In Milgram’s 1963 research into obedience, he conducted several variations to identify situational factors. In Experiment 10, the setting was changed from Yale University to a rundown office block in Bridgeport. What was the resulting obedience rate for participants delivering the maximum shock level in this variation?

Question 6
2 marks

Identify the sampling technique used when a researcher selects participants who are most easily available at the time of the study, such as people walking past them in a shopping center.

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Question 7
3 marks

Identify the primary difference between Agency Theory and Social Power Theory regarding the fundamental source of an individual's obedience.

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Question 8
5 marks

Explain why consistency is considered a vital factor for minority influence to be successful, according to Moscovici (1976).

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Question 9
4 marks

In social psychology research, the method of gathering data can significantly impact the validity of the findings.
(a) Define the term volunteer sampling and provide one example of how a researcher might recruit participants using this technique.
(b) Outline one strength and one weakness of using a questionnaire to investigate self-reported levels of obedience in students.

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Question 10
5 marks

Moscovici et al. (\( 1969 \)) explored the conditions under which a minority can influence a majority.
(a) State the aim of the Moscovici et al. (\( 1969 \)) study.
(b) Describe the difference in the confederates' behavior between the consistent and inconsistent conditions.
(c) Explain why consistency is theorized to be an essential factor for successful minority influence.

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