The aim of Milgram's experiment was to know far people would go in obeying an instruction if it involved harming another person. The procedures included 40 volunteers (male) that were recruited via newspaper ad. Aged ranged from 20 to 50 and their jobs were skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled.They were paid $4.50 for just showing up.The psychologist Stanley Milgram created an electric "shock generator" with 30 switches. The switch was marked clearly in 15 volt increments, ranging from 15 to 450 volts. The switch had labels on it that showed shock levels from Moderate (75-120) to Strong (135-180). The switches 375-420 Volts were marked "Danger: Severe Shock" and the two highest levels 435-450, was marked "XXX." The shock was fake and would only produce sound when the switches were pressed.
The experiment briefly describes the events that took place.The subject was instructed to teach word-pairs to the learner. When the learner made a mistake, the subject was instructed to punish the learner by giving him a shock, 15 volts higher for each mistake.The learner never received the shocks, but pre-taped audio was triggered when a shock-switch was pressed.If the experimenter, seated in the same room, was contacted, the experimenter would answer the same response. If the subject asked who was responsible if anything would happen to the learner, the experimenter answered "I am responsible"." This gave the subject a relief and many subject progressed. During the experiment very few actually went against authority, even though all shocked the learner at 300 volts and on. Over 50% went to the full amount of electricity. In fact, psychologist forecasted that not even 1% of the subjects would follow up to the last switch on the generator. .
I am inclined to believe that Milgram's study was ethical for the following reasons. Firstly,the issue of permission. Although Milgram obviously did not obtain informed consent from his subjects, subjects volunteered for the study so they did agree to take part.