LT4: Social Influence – Bickman’s (1974) Research into Situational Factors Bickman’s (1974) Original Study Aim: To investigate the degree of social power the uniform has on other people. Method: Field experiment which took places on the streets of Brooklyn, NYC. It was an independent groups design as participants only saw one of three levels of authority. 153 adult participants aged between 18-61 (estimated age) who happened to be on the street, it was an opportunity sample. 4 male researchers took turns to wear 3 different uniforms: (civilian – sports jacket and tie, milkman – white jacket and empty milk bottles, guard – similar to policeman but no badge or gun.) The experiments gave participants one of three instructions: picking up some litter, giving a dime for a parking meter, standing at the other side of the bus stop. Findings: In all three conditions the guard produced the highest levels of obedience, there was no significant difference in obedience between the milkman and the civilian. Conclusion: Wearing a uniform is a situational factor that gives people more power and influence over others’ behaviour than people not in uniform. Experiment 2 Experiment 3A Experiment 3B 189 students. Field experiment in a different part of Brooklyn. Data was gathered using a questionnaire. Participants were asked to predict what they and 48 adult participants. 141 college students took part people in general would do in one of the Dime and parking meter scenario used. They investigated whether 29 different scenarios in experiment 1 scenarios were perceived as legitimate Guard and civilian uniform used. Results showed that participants did not think the (acceptable) requests by a civilian, milkman or Surveillance (the experiment watched after the guard would have more social power than the guard. instruction was given) civilian and the milkman. The guard was not perceived to be more Non-Surveillance (the experiment left This suggests that how people think they would legitimate than the other uniforms when giving immediately after the instruction was given). behave is not a good predictor of how people orders. Surveillance had no effect on levels of actually behave. This suggests that participants did not think the obedience. experimenter’s uniform made their request any The guard was obeyed significantly more than more legitimate. the civilian.
LT4: Social Influence – Bickman’s (1974) Research into Situational Factors Bickman’s (1974) Original Study Aim: To investigate the degree of social power the uniform has on other people. Method: Field experiment which took places on the streets of Brooklyn, NYC. It was an independent groups design as participants only saw one of three levels of authority. 153 adult participants aged between 18-61 (estimated age) who happened to be on the street, it was an opportunity sample. 4 male researchers took turns to wear 3 different uniforms: (civilian – sports jacket and tie, milkman – white jacket and empty milk bottles, guard – similar to policeman but no badge or gun.) The experiments gave participants one of three instructions: picking up some litter, giving a dime for a parking meter, standing at the other side of the bus stop. Findings: In all three conditions the guard produced the highest levels of obedience, there was no significant difference in obedience between the milkman and the civilian. Conclusion: Wearing a uniform is a situational factor that gives people more power and influence over others’ behaviour than people not in uniform. Experiment 2 Experiment 3A Experiment 3B Field experiment in a different part of Brooklyn. 48 adult participants. Dime and parking meter scenario used. Guard and civilian uniform used. Surveillance (the experiment watched after the instruction was given) Non-Surveillance (the experiment left immediately after the instruction was given). Surveillance had no effect on levels of obedience. The guard was obeyed significantly more than the civilian. Data was gathered using a questionnaire. 141 college students took part They investigated whether 29 different scenarios were perceived as legitimate (acceptable) requests by a civilian, milkman or guard. The guard was not perceived to be more legitimate than the other uniforms when giving orders. This suggests that participants did not think the experimenter’s uniform made their request any more legitimate. 189 students. Participants were asked to predict what they and people in general would do in one of the scenarios in experiment 1 Results showed that participants did not think the guard would have more social power than the civilian and the milkman. This suggests that how people think they would behave is not a good predictor of how people actually behave.