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EnglandPsychologyQuick questions
Social influence
Quick questions on Core studies: Bickman (1974) and NatCen (2011) - OCR GCSE Psychology (J203)
7short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is aim?Show answer
To find out whether the social power of a uniform increases obedience to a request in a real-life setting.
What is method?Show answer
A field experiment on the streets of New York. A researcher (a confederate) stopped members of the public and gave a small order, such as to pick up litter, give a coin to a stranger for a parking meter, or move away from a bus stop. The key variable was what the confederate wore: a smart civilian jacket and tie, a milkman's uniform, or a guard's uniform that resembled a police officer.
What are results?Show answer
People obeyed the guard (authority uniform) much more than the civilian; the milkman fell in between. Obedience to the guard was the highest of the three.
What is conclusion?Show answer
A uniform that signals authority increases obedience: people are more likely to obey someone who looks like a legitimate authority. This supports legitimacy as a situational factor in factors affecting social influence.
What is q1?Show answer
Which uniform produced the highest obedience in Bickman (1974)? [1 mark]
What is q2?Show answer
Give two reasons NatCen (2011) found for taking part in the riots. [2 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
State one strength of Bickman's field experiment. [1 mark]
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