2. WHO WAS THE PRIMARY
RESEARCHER(S)?
Philip Zimbardo
3. WHAT WAS THE TIME PERIOD IN WHICH
THE RESEARCH TOOK PLACE?
The study began on Sunday, August 17,
1971 and only continued for 6 days due
to what was happening to the
participants.
4. WHO WERE THE PARTICIPANTS?
The participants for this particular study included 24
undergraduate students from a group of 70
volunteers. These 24 undergraduate students were
chosen based off three reasons, and these reasons
were that they didn't have a criminal background,
didn't show any psychological issues, and didn't have
any major medical issues. From there, the 24 students
were assigned as either a security guard or a prisoner
and were paid $15.00 a day for a one-to-two week
period.
5. METHOD
The study is usually described as an experiment with the independent
variable being the conditions the participants are randomly allocated
to: either prisoner or guard. The dependent variable is the resulting
behavior. The study can also be described as a simulation as it was
attempting to create a prison like environment.
Data collected were combinations of both quantitative and
qualitative data. The main data though was qualitative and was
obtained using video, audiotape and direct observation.
6. RESULTS
• Behaviours and attitudes are strongly
influenced by social roles
• Participants in prison guard study displayed
brutal behaviour whereas such tendencies
were not apparent previously
7. RESULTS
Guards and prisoners alike had difficulty believing
that they were capable of their respective cruel
and submissive behaviour
Prisoners report that guards conformed to the usual
three stereotypes:
Tough
Fair
Cruel
8. ETHICAL CRITICISM
Lack of fully informed consent by participants
High levels of humiliation and distress experienced by
prisoners
Lack of protection from psychological and physical
harm
*Experiment was unpredictable. Above implications
could not be predetermined.