Meeus and Raaijmaker- Procedure in detail

Meeus and Raaijmaker- Procedure in detail

1. LOCATION- modern university building

2. Participants led to believe they were taking part in a study on stress and behaviour

3. Participants believed that the psychology department were selecting candidates for a job

4. Each applicant (CONFEDERATE) was to take a test which would be administered by participants

5. Test = Vital to success

   • If applicants failed the test they lost the job

6. Participants were asked to make 15 distressing remarks to the applicants

   • Stating how they were getting on with the test
     • "if you continue responding like this, you're going to fail the test

7. Participants also overhead the experimenter telling the 'applicants' false info about the study

   • 'It would not affect their job chances'
   • 2/3 through the test the 'applicant' accussed the researchers of giving flase info
     • And withdrew consent to continue

8. Soon became obvious that applicant was getting distressed and would fail

   • Therefore not get the job
   • Subjects refused to continue to make stressful remarks = they would be prodded by experimenter

9. A participant who made all stress remarks was seen as obedient

10. Participants who refused to make all the stress remarks were considered disobedient