MovieChat Forums > The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015) Discussion > This is how much money they would of bee...

This is how much money they would of been paid in 2016 dollars

posted 8 years ago by tripper-09331
3 replies | jump to latest

Although $15 a day seems like nothing to be paid in 2016 it was actually A LOT of money in 1970. When calculating for inflation (at http://www.dollartimes.com/inflation) that $15 equals $94.11. That's $1317.54 in 2 weeks.

In real life they were paid $20 a day which is $125.48 or $1756.72 in 2 weeks!

"Common sense is not so common"

[–] dromillo 8 years ago

Except they are exposed to that 24/7. In today's dollars, that's $3.91/hr. (1317 / 336 hours in two weeks). So not worth it. Maybe my perception is influenced as a professional with a six figure income.

[–] tripper-09331 8 years ago

So not worth it. Maybe my perception is influenced as a professional with a six figure income.

Value is a personal matter. Remember that most of them were broke college students, with one being so deep in college debt he was living in his car.

True the guards seemed to be getting a great deal as they only had to work 8 hour shifts. The prisoners on the other hand saw it as only having to lay around in a bed all night and hang out all day getting to eat free food.

In rational hindsight it's easy to say it's not worth it, however from the point of view from the students, with their initial expectations, it seemed like a very good deal.

I'm not sure how the experimenters were compensated but I do know that the entire experiment was funded by the U.S. Office of Naval Research. So I'm sure they did alright.

"Common sense is not so common"

[–] LegendaryRambler 8 years ago

Plus,
Remember, the guards worked eight hour shifts, while the prisoners were "incarcerated " around the clock. Even I. 1971, they were underpaid. I wonder if the experimenters got an exemption, or the paid volunteers signed an agreement. Because, that was quite a difference!

Best to you all, LegendaryRambler