Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to identify key characteristics of the experimental method using the classic Stanford Prison Study as an example. In order to do so, you will be asked to answer the questions posed below.
Task: Read chapters 6, 8, and 13 from Textbook and Haney, Zimbardo, & Banks (1973) (pdf is posted on ilearn). Answer the questions below based on your reading of the Haney, Zimbardo, & Banks (1973) article Interpersonal Dynamics in a Simulated Prison.
1) What are the variables under examination in this study? What was the independent variable? What were the dependent variables?
2) What hypotheses were tested?
3) Why was random assignment important to the design of this study?
4) What are the real world implications of this study? What does it tell us about the behavior occurring in our prisons (by prisoners and guards)?
5) Why was the sampling procedure important to the design? (i.e., the screening procedures)
6) Is it significant that there were statistically significant findings given the small sample size (N=21)? What does this tell us about effect size and the impact the independent variable had on participants behavior?
7) Is it significant that 5 prisoners had to be released after less than a week (in some cases after just 1 or 2 days) due to exhibiting various symptoms of psychopathology? What does this say about the resilience of people who have been incarcerated for decades? What does this say about the prison situation in relationship to mental health?