Levine

Question 1

Levine et al. study (2001) carried out a study into
responses to people in need.
Give two results from this study. [2]

Answer 1

No relationship between helping behaviour and population size

No significant gender differences

Question 2

Explain why this study can be described as a quasi
experiment. [2]

Answer 2

Because the experiment used a naturally occurring
IV as a person’s place of residence is predetermined and not in the control of the
researchers.

Question 3

In Levine et al.’s study into cross cultural altruism, four
community variables were recorded: Describe how two of the
community variables were measured. [4]

Answer 3

Cultural values. Rating of the 23 countries in the sample on the
dimension of individualism-collectivism/ Countries were rated on a 10-point scale

Pace of Life measured by walking speed (over 60 feet).

Question 4

Aim

Answer 4

To investigate differences in non-emergency helping behaviour towards strangers in a range of cultures to understand differences in terms of cultural traditions and economic productivity

Question 5

Sample

Answer 5

1198
23 countries

children, elderly people and those with physical disabilities were excluded

Question 6

Research Method

Answer 6

Quasi Exp

Question 7

IV

Answer 7

Comparison of culture

Question 8

DV

Answer 8

helping behaviour, tested using 3 non-emergency situations, scored according to whether they helped or not

Question 9

Name the 3 non - emergency situations

Answer 9

Dropped pen
Hurt leg
Blind person crossing a road

Question 10

Name the community variables

Answer 10

Population size
Economic Prosperity
Cultural Values
Pace of life based on walking speed

Question 11

Findings

Answer 11

Rio was the most helpful city at 93%

Kuala Lumpur was the least helpful at 40%

Economic prosperity correlated negatively with helping, the better off the country the less likely they were to help

mean rate for simpatia countries was 82.7%, mean for non simpatia countries was 65.9%

Question 12

Conclusion

Answer 12

Helping behaviour in non-emergency situations is not universal but varies between cities

Question 13

To what extent does Levine change our understanding of helping behaviour?

Answer 13

Piliavin = NY only
Levine = cross cultural
demonstrated the impact of culture, also showing how unhelpful NY is so leads to questions about the generalisability of Piliavin’s research

Question 14

To what extent does Levine change our understanding of helping behaviour (Individual)?

Answer 14

P=90% of first helpers male
L= No gender differences

Question 15

To what extent does Levine change our understanding of helping behaviour (Social)?

Answer 15

P= effect of model
Levine adds little to this as this was not manipulated within their research

Question 16

Link to social area

Answer 16

Defining principle - Assumes that people’s behaviour is affected by the situation that they are in so social psychologists are interested in the effects of social context and environment on behaviour

Interested in how a person would respond in a non emergency situation where someone required help. It was found that there was little difference in the type of emergency but that there was large differences between cultures - simpatia countries helped 83% of the time compared to no simpatia at 65.7%

Question 17

Link to key theme

Answer 17

Interested in testing helping behaviour in non-emergency situations, these were tested across a range of different cultures.

Explain theme
Explain what Levine did
Finding

Question 18

Ethnocentrism

Answer 18

No
Cross cultural - 23 countries

However, could be
only cities used
and mainly Europe, Asia and America

Question 19

Ecological Validity

Answer 19

High

Scenarios plausible

Question 20

Internal validity

Answer 20

Low
other factors could have influenced results such as personality

Question 21

Internal reliability

Answer 21

standardised procedure, experimenters were trained so that they all did the situations in the same way

Question 22

Ethical guidelines broken

Answer 22

no consent
no right to withdraw
deception

Question 23

Simpatia meaning

Answer 23

being friendly, nice and good natured.

Question 24

How was pace of life measured

Answer 24

35 males and 35 females were timed covering a distance of 60 feet