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Demetra
03/12/2025
Psychology
Contemporary study- Burger 2009
323
•
3 Dec 2025
•
Exploring Burger's 2009 Study Replicating Milgram's Research
Demetra
@demetra_21
1 / 3
Burger's Modern Take on Obedience
Burger wanted to see if obedience levels had changed since the 1960s and whether watching someone else refuse orders would make people less likely to obey. His study compared a base condition (following standard procedures) with a modelled refusal condition (where participants saw someone else refuse to continue).
The sample included 70 participants who were carefully screened for mental health issues. Anyone who'd taken two or more psychology classes got the boot - can't have people knowing what's coming! Participants were paid $50 regardless of whether they completed the study.
Just like Milgram's original, participants thought they were shocking a "learner" for wrong answers. The key difference? No one was allowed to go beyond 150 volts - much more ethical than Milgram's brutal 450-volt maximum.
Quick Fact: Burger stopped at 150V because research showed that participants who continued past this point in Milgram's study almost always went all the way to 450V.
The Results: Are We Still Sheep?
The findings were pretty eye-opening. 73% of women continued to the maximum 150V compared to 65% of men - not a massive difference, really. In the modelled refusal condition, 63% still carried on even after watching someone else refuse.
Here's the kicker: 70% of participants in 2009 were willing to administer the highest shocks compared to 82.5% in Milgram's 1963 study. Whilst this looks like we've become slightly less obedient, the difference isn't statistically significant.
Burger concluded that time and cultural changes haven't really affected our tendency to obey authority figures. Watching someone else refuse didn't make much difference either - people still followed orders.
Reality Check: Despite 40+ years of social change, we're still pretty much as likely to follow authority figures as our grandparents were.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Burger's study definitely improved on Milgram's approach. The larger, more diverse sample (70 vs 40 participants) included both genders across a wider age range, making the results more generalisable to the general population.
The ethical improvements were massive - participants were screened for mental health, the study stopped at 150V, and a clinical psychologist was present. The reliability was solid too, with everything filmed for other researchers to verify.
However, there are some serious limitations. The biggest issue? We can't actually know if participants would've continued to 450V like in the original study. The artificial nature of shocking strangers for learning mistakes doesn't reflect real-world obedience situations.
The study still involved deception (fake shocks, recorded screams), which raises ethical concerns. Plus, the assumption that behaviour at 150V predicts behaviour at 450V is pretty bold.
Bottom Line: Whilst Burger's study was more ethical, stopping at 150V means we can't directly compare modern obedience levels to Milgram's shocking results.
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Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
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Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
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This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
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very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Exploring Burger's 2009 Study Replicating Milgram's Research
Demetra
@demetra_21
Ever wondered if people today would still blindly follow orders from authority figures? Jerry Burger's 2009 study tackled this exact question by recreating Milgram's famous obedience experiment with modern ethical standards.
Burger's Modern Take on Obedience
Burger wanted to see if obedience levels had changed since the 1960s and whether watching someone else refuse orders would make people less likely to obey. His study compared a base condition (following standard procedures) with a modelled refusal condition (where participants saw someone else refuse to continue).
The sample included 70 participants who were carefully screened for mental health issues. Anyone who'd taken two or more psychology classes got the boot - can't have people knowing what's coming! Participants were paid $50 regardless of whether they completed the study.
Just like Milgram's original, participants thought they were shocking a "learner" for wrong answers. The key difference? No one was allowed to go beyond 150 volts - much more ethical than Milgram's brutal 450-volt maximum.
Quick Fact: Burger stopped at 150V because research showed that participants who continued past this point in Milgram's study almost always went all the way to 450V.
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The Results: Are We Still Sheep?
The findings were pretty eye-opening. 73% of women continued to the maximum 150V compared to 65% of men - not a massive difference, really. In the modelled refusal condition, 63% still carried on even after watching someone else refuse.
Here's the kicker: 70% of participants in 2009 were willing to administer the highest shocks compared to 82.5% in Milgram's 1963 study. Whilst this looks like we've become slightly less obedient, the difference isn't statistically significant.
Burger concluded that time and cultural changes haven't really affected our tendency to obey authority figures. Watching someone else refuse didn't make much difference either - people still followed orders.
Reality Check: Despite 40+ years of social change, we're still pretty much as likely to follow authority figures as our grandparents were.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Strengths and Weaknesses
Burger's study definitely improved on Milgram's approach. The larger, more diverse sample (70 vs 40 participants) included both genders across a wider age range, making the results more generalisable to the general population.
The ethical improvements were massive - participants were screened for mental health, the study stopped at 150V, and a clinical psychologist was present. The reliability was solid too, with everything filmed for other researchers to verify.
However, there are some serious limitations. The biggest issue? We can't actually know if participants would've continued to 450V like in the original study. The artificial nature of shocking strangers for learning mistakes doesn't reflect real-world obedience situations.
The study still involved deception (fake shocks, recorded screams), which raises ethical concerns. Plus, the assumption that behaviour at 150V predicts behaviour at 450V is pretty bold.
Bottom Line: Whilst Burger's study was more ethical, stopping at 150V means we can't directly compare modern obedience levels to Milgram's shocking results.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user