Applications of Research
into Obedience
Keeping Order in
Institutions and Situations
Bickman’s (1974) investigation into
the power of uniform
What method did Bickman use in his
investigation?
a.
b.
c.
a laboratory experiment
a field experiment
a questionnaire
Bickman’s (1974) investigation into
the power of uniform
What method did Bickman use in his
investigation?
a.
b.
c.
a laboratory experiment
a field experiment
a questionnaire
Bickman’s (1974) investigation into
the power of uniform
Which of these uniforms did he not test?
a.
b.
c.
a guard’s uniform
a milkman’s uniform
an army officer’s uniform
Bickman’s (1974) investigation into
the power of uniform
Which of these uniforms did he not test?
a.
b.
c.
a guard’s uniform
a milkman’s uniform
an army officer’s uniform
Bickman’s (1974) investigation into
the power of uniform
Which of these tasks were participants not
asked to do?
a.
b.
c.
walk down one side of the pavement
pick up litter
give some money to a stranger
Bickman’s (1974) investigation into
the power of uniform
Which of these tasks were participants not
asked to do?
a.
b.
c.
walk down one side of the pavement
pick up litter
give some money to a stranger
Findings of Bickman’s study
89%
57%
Obedience
Rate (%)
33%
Type of Uniform
Keeping Order in Institutions
BATs
Apply research into
obedience by
finding out how to
keep order in
schools, prisons
and the armed
forces (C+)
Revision for mini test next
week
Blog quiz
Activities on p60 of text book
How can we apply what we have
learnt about Obedience?
 Most
groups in Society have a
HIERARCHY?
 What does this mean?
Giving orders,
making
business
decisions,
exercising
discipline
Taking orders,
following
instructions,
obeying or else
‘fired’
Most Authority
Low obedience to others below
Least Authority
Obedience to everyone higher up
See
Supermarket
example on
p57
Keeping Order in Prisons
 Read
p 58 and fill in the worksheet.
Use of Uniform
Gives guards power
and status
 Easier for guards to
give orders as they do
not feel responsible
for their actions
 Prisoners lose
identity – easier to
control/distinguish
BUT - Prisoners may
take less
responsibility for
their actions and
become disobedient

Use of Punishment
Punishments for
breaking rules in
prison – prisoners
more likely to
obey
 Solitary
confinement
 Loss of privileges

Consensus
Can encourage
obedience
 Can encourage
disobedience –
must prevent
’ganging up’
amongst prisoners
 Can lead to riots
 Prisoners kept
apart most of time,
or monitored
closely when in
groups

Keeping Order in Schools
Schools need a level of Obedience to
make them function properly
 Draw a hierarchy triangle for this
school …

Keeping Order in Schools

Government
South Glos Council
Mr Cook – Headteacher
Deputy Heads – JA and AT
Assistant Heads
Heads of Lower, Middle and Upper School
Heads of Faculty/Subject
Teachers, Support Staff, Cleaners e.t.c
Students
Behaviour Policy
You have10
minutes –
we will
share these
 Read
the Grange School Behaviour
for Learning Policy
 Look at ‘Doing Research’ p59
 In your group write 5 questions you
could ask the teacher you have
invited
 They need to be open questions
 How will you record what is said?
Think about Ethics,
politeness, and
http://www.army.mod.uk armed forces website – ‘joining the army’ –
‘Discipline values and standards’
Keeping Order in the Armed Forces
Use the computer to do activity 4.9
 Jot down all the ways in which the
document encourages obedience in
potential recruits.

Plenary
What were your main findings from
the interview with a teacher?
 Compare your answers with other
groups.
 It will be nice to thank the teachers
and let them know what you got out
of this, and how it enhanced your
understanding of obedience in
schools

Homework
 Revision
for mini test
next week see p 60
 You may take your
exercise book home
 Blog quiz – try the quiz