Comparison of Two Psychology Articles. Psychology Essay

Comparison of Two Psychology Articles
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Introduction
In the current world, obedience to authority and social conformity are some of the primary attributes of human beings. Primarily, society has established a hereditary ruling system which gives power to particular individuals. In essence, members of a community can see power being exercised on their daily human interactions. An example of the notion is the sense that nurses follow the instructions of doctors and teachers have precise control over students. The circumstance raises a crucial concern as to the extent to which one ought to exercise its authority in various events. Two perceptible studies by Shanab and Yahya (1977) and Hofling et al. (1996) examine the capacity at which one's obedience to authority can clash with their knowledge and integrity.
Evaluation
Shanab and Yahya (1977) used the Milgram shock experiment by a Yale University professor called Stanley Milgram. On the other hand, Hofling et al. (1996) created a more realistic analysis that they came to refer to as the Hofling hospital experiment. Milgram's investigation focused on the dispute between one's compliance with power and his or her moral sense. In contrast, the Hofling hospital experiment aimed at the contradiction between an individual’s conformity with the guidelines and their morality. The results of the Milgram experiment were that 60% of the participants, in this case, the teachers, continued with their punishment to a mark of 450 volts. On the other hand, the Hofling experiment exhibited that 95% of the participants obeyed the instructions willingly, regardless of the consequences. Also, the nurses in the control group said that they would not comply with the order.
Ecological Validity
Milgram’s study has low ecological validity. Scholars have criticized the experiment for lacking a general validity because the whole practice was artificial. One cannot apply the findings of the study in the real-world because he or she cannot ask a teacher to deliver an electric shock to learners for giving a wrong answer. Moreover, critics state that the participants were acting and that they were aware, or suspected, that they were in analysis and that the task was not real. However, the Hofling experiment has high levels of ecological validity because the investigators experimented in a real-life environment. The nurses were not aware that they were involved in research, and that is why its findings can be applied in a real-life situation.
Replicability
The procedure of the Milgram experiment is highly reliable because it can be replicated. Between 1961 and 1961, Milgram performed 19 variations of his baseline study. Also, Burger (2009) carried out an accurate analysis of Variation #5, where he tested people's empathy using their heart conditions. He also performed Variation #7 on model refusal and Variation #8 on testing women. In his analysis, Burger (2009) followed the procedure of Milgram as carefully as he could, demonstrating high replicability. On the other hand, if one follows the Hofling experiment closely, using the same instructions and script, the study can be replicated. Moreover, he used a control group...