The Tuskegee Experiment was a medical study conducted in the US from 1932 to 1972, in which nearly 400 black Americans with syphilis were not offered treatment. The study lacked informed consent and caused harm to participants, including the spread of syphilis to wives and children. The experiment triggered extensive ethics legislation and public outcry, […]
The Milgram Experiment tested how people would follow instructions from an authority figure, even if morally dubious. Participants administered electric shocks to a “learner” despite their complaints of pain. 65% administered the maximum shock, but all expressed reservations. The experiment was controversial due to trauma and lack of informed consent. The Milgram Experiment was a […]
A qualitative experiment uses non-objective methods like case studies or interviews to test a hypothesis. It is often used to formulate a hypothesis for a larger quantitative study. Quantitative research is more scientific and uses objective methods to record results. Qualitative research provides a deeper understanding of a topic, but its results cannot be generalized […]
The Philadelphia Experiment, allegedly conducted by the US Navy in 1943 to make a ship invisible, is surrounded by conflicting reports and skepticism. The Navy denies its occurrence, and inconsistencies in the timeline and witness credibility add to doubts. The story inspired books, movies, and TV shows. Also known as “Project Rainbow,” the Philadelphia Experiment […]
Controlled experiments involve manipulating one variable while keeping all others constant to test a hypothesis. To ensure accurate results, researchers must eliminate as many variables as possible. For example, to test the effect of sound on plants, researchers must use the same plant species, size, and location, and expose them to the same sound at […]
The Michelson-Morley experiment disproved the existence of the luminiferous aether, a substance thought to be the medium through which light waves traveled. The experiment measured tiny changes in the speed of light and found the expected “ether effect” to be almost imperceptible, leading to the conclusion that the ether was imaginary. This discovery laid the […]
The Stanford Prison Experiment analyzed human response to imprisonment using college students as guards and prisoners in a mock prison. The experiment showed how assigned roles affected behavior, with guards abusing their power and prisoners bonding together. The experiment was criticized for its design but is still supported by some social psychologists. The Stanford Prison […]
Thought experiments are used to test ideas that cannot be physically tested. They are used in theoretical sciences and philosophy. Schrödinger’s cat is a famous example. Thought experiments challenge accepted ideas and can lead to discoveries, such as Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. They test the boundaries of the mind and imagination, promoting unusual ways of […]
