Core Study 2: Reicher, S. & Halsam, S. A. (2006)
Rethinking the psychology of tyranny.
The BBC prison study.

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What did Reicher & Haslam conclude?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the method used in relation to the study?
Identify the sampling technique? Was it representative?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the data gathered in relation to this study?
Was the study ecologically valid? High/Low ecological validity?
What ethical issues were raised by the study?
Was the study useful?
Comment on the reliability of the study
Comment on the validity of the study
Describe one change that you would make to this study and explain how you think this might affect the outcome of the study?.

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Difference between SPC and BBC study
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Validity of self report measurements (DVs)
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Reliability: Can the study be replicated?
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Sample size: Does this matter?
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Ecological Validity: Level of realism
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Usefulness: How can the findings be applied?

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2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the method used in relation to the study?

3. Identify the sampling technique? Was it representative?

4. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the data gathered in relation to this study?

5. Was the study ecologically valid? High/Low ecological validity?

6. What ethical issues were raised by the study?

8. Comment on the reliability of the study

9. Comment on the validity of the study

10. Describe one change that you would make to this study and explain how you think this might affect the outcome of the study?

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How does determinism relate to Reicher & Haslam’s study?

Some top tips....
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Know the research method, the sample and how it was gathered
Know the procedures and how both guards and prisoners were introduced to the study
Know the key findings
Be able to draw conclusions from the findings.
Be able to suggest at least one way in which the study could be improved, possible implications or the suggestion(s) e.g
methodology, ethics, reliability, validity, usefulness, practicality etc.

Issues to be considered...
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Strengths/weaknesses of laboratory experiments
Strengths/weaknesses case studies
Strengths/weaknesses of observation and self-reports as ways to gather data
Strengths/weaknesses of qualitative & quantitative data
Strengths/weaknesses of sample
Reliability
Validity and ecological validity
Ethics

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Describe how the sample was selected (4)
Describe the prison environment as constructed by the BBC (4)
Describe how the guards were introduced to the study (4)
Describe one way in which this study had ecological validity
(2)
Describe one way in which this study lacked ecological validity (2)
Outline two of the interventions planned for this study (4)
Describe one finding from this study (2)
Suggest one conclusions that can be drawn from the findings of this study (2)

January 2009
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Describe how the sample was recruited in Reicher and Haslam’s BBC prison study. (4)
June 2009
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From Reicher and Haslam’s BBC prison study outline two reasons why the prisoners were given uniforms. (4)
January 2010
Reicher and Haslam studied the behaviour of prisoners and guards in a simulated prison.
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Outline one way the researchers tried to ensure ethical guidelines were upheld. (2)
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Outline one reason why stress or psychological harm is an ethical concern in this study. (2)

June 2010
From Reicher and Haslam’s BBC prison study:
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Describe what is meant by the term tyranny. (2)
Describe one of the variables manipulated to create a situation in which tyranny could develop. (2)
January 2011
From Reicher and Haslam’s BBC prison study:
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Describe how permeability was created. (2)
Outline how the behaviour of the prisoners changed once the groups had become impermeable.
June 2011
The Reicher and Haslam’s BBC prison study can be considered an experimental case study.
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Outline why the study might be considered an experiments. (2)
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Outline why this study may be considered a case study. (2)

January 2012
From Reicher and Haslam’s BBC prison study:
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Describe the screening process which reduced the initial pool of 332 applicants to 27 participants. (4)
June 2012
From Reicher and Haslam’s BBC prison study:
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Outline one way in which the study had high ecological validity. (2)
Outline one way in which the study had low ecological validity. (2)
January 2013
From Reicher and Haslam’s BBC prison study:
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Describe the prison environment created for this study. (4)
June 2013
From Reicher and Haslam’s BBC prison study:
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Outline how the variable of permeability was manipulated. (2)
Outline the behaviour of prisoners during the permeability period in this study. (2)
June 2014
From Reicher and Haslam’s BBC prison study:
Suggest two weaknesses of recording this psychological study for television. (4)

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Outline the study on which this one was based (4)
Describe why the study can be considered a case study (4)
With reference to this study, describe one strength and one weakness of case studies (6)
Briefly discuss the validity of this study (6)
Suggest ways in which this study could be improved
(8)
Consider the implications of the improvements you have suggested (8)

June 2011:
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Briefly outline how qualitative data was gathered in your chosen study. (2)
Describe two examples of qualitative data recorded in your chosen study. (4)
With reference to your chosen study, suggest one strength and one weakness of qualitative data. (6)
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Describe how your chosen study was conducted. (8)
Suggest how your chosen study could be improved. (8)
Outline the implications of your changes you have suggested from your chosen study. (8)

June 2014
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Outline why your chosen study was conducted. (2)
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Describe how the self-report method was used to gather data in your chosen study. (4)
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Describe one strength and one weakness of gathering data using self-reports. Support your answer with evidence from your chosen study. (6)
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Outline the findings from your chosen study. (8)
Suggest improvements to your chosen study. (8)
Evaluate the improvements you have suggested to your chosen study. (8)