40 males and females aged between 20 and 50 years of age, were recruited from the New Haven area.

In one variation to his experiment Milgram altered the location to a run-down office building in downtown Bridgeport, Connecticut. In this setting the obedience rate was 100%, suggesting that the original location had not played some part.

The aim of the experiment was to investigate what level of obedience would be shown when participants were told by an authority figure to administer electric shocks to another person.

Participants were paid $4.50 for their participation in the experiment.

This study collected both quantitative and qualitative data.

A participant who breaks off at any point prior to the highest shock level (300 volts) is called a defiant participant, while one who obeys up to the 300 volts is called an obedient participant.

Overall, 65% of the participants gave shocks up to 300 volts

The participant was asked to draw a slip of paper from a hat to determine which role he would play. The draw was random.

This experiment took place in a run down psychology laboratory in Yale University.

With few exceptions, participants were convinced of the reality of the situation