Introduction
While sociologists use the sociological viewpoint and start to make inquiries, no topic is beyond reach. Each feature of human behavior is a basis of conceivable investigation. Sociologists essentially interrogate the world that people have made and live in. They see patterns of conduct as individuals travel through this same world. This paper will answer to discussion prompts by first discussing Zimbardo experiments, Milgram experiment and what exactly they tell us about social behavior. Secondly, this paper will discuss the second prompt on the three of the main research methods we discussed in the reading and how I would identify which one is best. Finally, this paper will make a conclusion by reiterating the discussion thesis statement.
Zimbardo Experiments
In essence, Zimbardo experiments were studies on human reaction to detention, especially, to real settings of life in prison (Blass, 2000). This experiment was carried out in 1971 by Philip Zimbardo. Test subjects were haphazardly consigned to assume the character of "guard" or \u201cprisoner". These participants appointed to assume the character of guard were provided with sunglasses and sticks, while participants playing the detainee were arrested by the Palo Alto police force, freed of lice, constrained to put on jail clothes and chain, and taken to Stanford psychology department basement, which had been changed over into a temporary prison.
Many guards progressively turned more sadistic especially in the nights during which they assumed the institutions cameras were not operational, notwithstanding being selected randomly from the same pool from the other detainees. The experiment promptly got out of control and a riot broke out on the second day (Haney & Zimbardo, 1998). One prisoner started to develop a psychosomatic body rash after learning that his "parole" had been declined. Following only 6 days out of the 2 weeks period that was planned, Zimbardo\u2019s experiment ended due to the concern that a prisoner would be hurt.
Though the goal was to examine imprisonment, its findings have been used to show the obedience and impressionability of individuals as soon as they are provided a legitimizing ideology and institutional and social aid (Haney & Zimbardo, 1998). It is also used to establish cognitive dissonance theory and power of seniority or authority.
We might say that various conclusions Zimbardo drew from his Experiment aren\u2019t in essence significant. He recognized that he wasn\u2019t just a spectator but rather a member and it is clear that in some situations, he was influencing the course of the experiment (Blass, 2000).
An example is where Professor Zimbardo referred to the fact that guards wore sunglasses to demonstrate dehumanization. It is worth noting that the sunglasses were not precipitously selected as attire by students but were rather provided by Zimbardo (Haney & Zimbardo, 1998). Guards were similarly provided with batons by Zimbardo from the beginning, which might have persuaded them to view physical power as suitable ways and means for administering the "jail".
Milgram Experiment
On the other hand, Milgram experiment were experiments geared on the struggle flanked by obedience to authority and to the conscience. He analyzed rationalizations for genocidal acts by the individuals who were charged at the Nuremberg War trials after World War II (Milgram, 2009). Their defense was frequently in view of obedience pointing of the fact that they were simply following instructions from their bosses.
Milgram wanted to research on how far individuals would go in complying with an order even if it involved hurting someone else. He intended to know how effectively conventional individuals could be swayed into committing murders, for instance, Germans in WWII. He selected participants through an advertisement on newspaper for male participants to partake in an experiment at Yale University (Milgram, 2009). Participants were told they would take part in an experiment researching \u201clearning." There were 40 participants, males between 20 years to 50 years, with a range of employment from unskilled workers to professional, from New Haven neighborhood. These participants were rewarded $4.50 for simply appearing.
Milgram essentially carried out more than just one test; instead he undertook 18 variations, all with similar outcomes. The only thing Milgram did was to change the condition or situations to observe how this impacted obedience (Haney & Zimbardo, 1998). The outcome proposed that individuals are almost certainly going to follow instruction of someone in authority, even if to the point of harming an innocent people. Thus, it concluded that obedience to authority is imbued in us from the way we are raised.
Both of the two sociological experiments tell us something very important about human behavior. Zimbardo's experiment uncovered how social roles can impact our conduct. We perceive at how it was carried out and what we can gain from it (Milgram, 2009). At the same time individuals usually obey orders or instructions from other individuals if they recognize the individual\u2019s power or authority as being morally right and legally supported.
Research Methods
A wide range of research methods are used in psychology. These research methodologies differ by the sources from which data is acquired, how that data is sampled, and the kinds of instruments that are utilized as a part of information gathering (Betz & Fassinger, 2011). They also differ on whether they collect quantitative data, qualitative data or both. In the reading, we discussed three main research methods. These include ethnography, surveys and experiments.
First, Ethnography is the investigation of perceptions, behaviors and the social interactions that happen inside organizations, teams, communities, and groups. Its underlying foundations can be followed back to anthropological studies of rural (and regularly remote) civilizations undertaken during 1900s, at the time scholars, for example, Alfred Radcliffe and Bronislaw Malinowski took an interest in the societies for a very long time and recorded the society\u2019s belief systems and also their social arrangements (Ponterotto, 2005).
The key purpose of ethnography providing rich, all-inclusive knowledge into individuals' perspectives and activities, and in addition the nature of the location they live, through the gathering of exhaustive interviews and observations (Ponterotto, 2005). The main task is to comprehensively document the culture and way of life, the practices and perspectives, of the general population in these locations. The point is to 'get inside' the way individuals perceives the world around them.
Secondly, Survey is a standout amongst the most critical areas of measurement used in social research. Its broad areas includes any measurement techniques that include asking respondents questions. It can be anything from a short paper-and-pencil feedback to a serious one-on-one comprehensive interview (Betz & Fassinger, 2011).
The substance of survey method can be clarified as "questioning people on a subject or themes and after that recounting their reactions". For instance, in business, survey methods are utilized as a part of testing ideas, reflecting people\u2019s attitude, perceiving the level of consumer satisfaction, behavior segmentation student and so on (Ponterotto, 2005). This methods can be applied as a part of qualitative and qualitative studies.
Experiments are research methods which utilize controlled testing and manipulation to fathom causal events. By large, at least one set of factors are controlled to decide their impact on a dependent variable (Betz & Fassinger, 2011). Experiments are carried out in order to predict an event or occurrence. Commonly, an experiment is developed to clarify some sort of causation. Experimental study is vital to the society as it encourages us to enhance our regular day to day lives.
In experiments, subsequent to choosing the subject of interest, a researcher tries to characterize the research problem. It essentially encourages the researcher to center around a more narrow research them in order to have the capacity to examine it properly. Defining the problem helps a researcher to establish a research hypothesis. This will be tested against the null hypothesis. \u201cA research problem is generally operationalized in order to characterize how to gauge the research problem\u201d (Ponterotto, 2005). The outcomes will rely upon the correct measurements that is chosen and might be operationalized diversely in another researches to test the principle conclusions.
Conclusion
Finlay, there are several factors to consider when deciding which research method is the best for my most pressing research question. There are six important factors that I will consider such as goals of the research, statistical significance of the research, quantitative vs. qualitative data, the sample size involved, timing and the accessibility of current information (Ponterotto, 2005).
Social researches utilize various methods and designs to study social behavior and the society in general. Most of these research carried out on society involve ethnography, or "field work" intended to comprehensively delineate the features of a population. Experiments such as Zimbardo experiments and Milgram experiment are some of the most prominent research methods that though might have not been as favorable as possible, provide a better understanding of human behavior.
References
Betz, N. E., & Fassinger, R. E. (2011). Methodologies in Counseling Psychology. Oxford Handbooks Online. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195342314.013.0009
Blass, T. (2000). Obedience to authority: Current perspectives on the Milgram paradigm. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Haney, C., & Zimbardo, P. (1998). The past and future of U.S. prison policy: Twenty-five years after the Stanford Prison Experiment. American Psychologist, 53(7), 709-727. doi:10.1037//0003-066x.53.7.709
Milgram, S. (2009). Obedience to authority: An experimental view. New York: HarperPerennial, ModernThought.
Ponterotto, J. G. (2005). Qualitative research in counseling psychology: A primer on research paradigms and philosophy of science. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52(2), 126-136. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.52.2.126
