Core studies - Piliavin - Paper 2

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

Investigate which factors affect helping behaviour
Investigate diffusion of responsibility

Question 2

Research method

Answer 2

Field experiment
Took place in NY subway on a journey that takes around 7.5 minutes

Question 3

IVs

Answer 3

If victim was lame (carrying a cane) or drunk
Race of victim (black/white)
Effect of a model (after 70/150 seconds, from the critical or adjacent area) or no model
Size of the witnessing group - naturally occuring variable

Question 4

DVs

Answer 4

Frequency of help
Speed of help
Race of helper
Gender of helper
Movement out of critical areas
Verbal comments from bystanders

Question 5

Sample

Answer 5

4,500 men and women who used the subway on weekdays between 11am and 3pm between 15 April and 26 June 1968
Approx. 45% black, 50% white
All researchers were General Studies students

Question 6

Researchers

Answer 6

4 teams of 4
Two female observers
One to act as a victim - male
One to act as a model - male
3 victims were white, one was black

Question 7

Model conditions

Answer 7

Critical area and early - 70 seconds
Critical area and late - 150 seconds
Adjacent area and early - 70 seconds
Adjacent area and late - 150 seconds

Question 7

Model conditions

Answer 7

Critical area and early - 70 seconds
Critical area and late - 150 seconds
Adjacent area and early - 70 seconds
Adjacent area and late - 150 seconds

Question 8

Observation

Answer 8

Victim stood in the critical area
After 70 seconds he collapsed and looked at the ceiling until being helped
If no one else helped the model would
6 - 8 trials run a day

Question 9

Findings

Answer 9

Lame victim helped spontaneously 95% of the time
Drunk victim helped spontaneously 50% of the time
Overall 100% help for lame victim compared to 81% for the drunk
Help offered more quickly to the lame victim
In 60% of the trials, there were 2 or more helpers
90% of the first helpers were men
Slight tendency for same - race helping especially in drunk condition
No diffusion of responsibility found

Question 10

Conclusions

Answer 10

Someone who appears lame/ill is more likely to receive help than someone who seems drunk
Men are more likely to help men than women are
People are more likely to help those of the same race as them
No relationship between amount of bystanders and speed of helping
More likely to receive help if others don’t think they brought the situation on themselves
When they have no chance to leave bystanders are more helpful
A cost-reward analysis is conducted before a bystander helps

Question 11

Strengths

Answer 11

Naturalistic environment - high EV
No demand characteristics

Question 12

Weaknesses

Answer 12

Victims, models and most helpers were male so it is hard to generalise to females
No chance for consent, withdrawal or debrief