Piliavin Flashcards
What was the aim of Piliavin’s study?
To study the factors affecting weather people would help a collapsed man on the New York underground
What was the method, IV and DV in Pilivan’s study?
method- Field experiment with participant observations
IV-Type of victim (lame or drunk)
Race of victim
Presence of a helping model
Number of ps (quasi)
DV- Time taken for the 1st passenger to help
Total number of ps who helped as well as gender, race and position of each helper.
What was the sample of Pilivan’s study?
An estimated of around 4,550 passengers travelled in the trains targeted. An average of 43 were present in each carriage where the procedure was carried out. And a model average of 8 were in the immediate or ‘critical’ area. The racial mix was estimated as 45% black and 55% white.
Where was Pilivan’s study taken place?
A and D trains between 59th and 125th streets on the New York 8th avenure independent subway. Trains chosen specifically as they had a 7.5 min journey.
What was the basic procedure for Piliavin’s study?
Victim 1-Smelled of liquor and carried a liquor bottle wrapped in a brown paper bag. Victim 2-appeared sober and carried a black cane. Acted identically in both conditions. the victim stood near a pole in the critical area and after 70s he staggered forward and collapsed, until recieving help he remained on the floor. If he did not recieve help by the time they arrived the model would help him to his feet. Then swapped with another team to go back. 6-8 trials were run in a day.
What were some results for Piliavin’s study?
Spontaneous help-Cane=95%, Drunk=50%
Help Index-Cane=100%,Drunk=81%
Time-Cane-median=55s, Drunk-109s
Gender-90% of first helpers were male
Race- A slight tendency towards helping the same race especially in drunk condition.
What are the conclusions given to Piliavin’s study?
-When escape is not possible and bystanders are face-to-face with a victim, help is likely to be forthcoming.
-An indvidual who appears ill is more likely to recieve help than one who appears drunk.
Men are more likely than women to help a male model
What were the 4 model conditions in Piliavin’s study?
-Model stood in the critical area and helped after 70s
-Model stood in the critical area and helped after 150s
-Model stood in the adjacent area and helped after 70s
-Model stood in the adjacent area and helped after 150s
what was the result given for effect of modelling in Piliavin’s study?
The model intervening after 70s was more likely to lead to help from other passengers (9cases) than the one intervening after 150s (3 cases). However the researchers noted that because passengers helped spontaneouslyin the vast majority of trials, there were few cases of helping after modelling to analyse.
How does social psychology suggest behaviour is caused?
Thoughts, feelings and behaviour of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined or implied presence of other human beings.
What is the key theme of Piliavin’s study?
Responses to people in need
