Drury Et Al Study (socio)

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To rest the social identity theory approach to understanding mass evacuation behaviors

Question 2

Procedure

Answer 2

• Students watched video clip of news footage on the Kings Cross Fire at the beginning to give context
• Groups of students from University of Sussex participated in a study about mass evacuation using a computer
  game that depicted fire on subway platform
  - “Danger of death” appeared as a bar across top of screen
  - Dependent variables: helping others, pushing others
• Two groups:
  
  • High identifiers:
    1) Students given university badges and asked to share three things about themselves
    (linked to the school) prior to stimulation
    2) Students told theu are returning from a march about
    tuition fees with their peers (University affiliation emphasized), all returning to campus together
  • Low identifiers:
    1) Students asked to share three personal things about themselves prior to stimulation
    2) Students told they are returning from the march, not told their identity or identity of peers

Question 3

Findings

Answer 3

• When “danger of death” was high, both groups helped less often
• High identifiers helped more often in high danger situations, but still less than in low danger situations
• Questionnaire at end indicated that high identifiers felt more concern for others
• High identifiers helped more often and pushed significantly less than low identifiers
• In mass evacuations, individuals are more likely to help and less likely to push if they identify with their
  peers and are connected about them (supports social identity theory)

Question 4

Limitations

Answer 4

• Ecological validity
• Expectancy effect due to video (social desirability
  effect/screw-you effect)

Question 5

Ethical Considerations

Answer 5

• Protection from harm
• Use of inducements (received money or course
  credit)

Question 6

Research method

Answer 6

• Experiment