Piliavin

Question 1

Key theme + area

Answer 1

Key theme = responses to people in need
Area = social

Question 2

Back ground

Answer 2

Kitty Genoese = 38 witnesses, no help called - diffusion of responsibility

Question 3

Aim

Answer 3

Investigate factors affecting helping behaviour

Question 4

Sample

Answer 4

45% black + 55% white passengers
4450 ppts total
Average of 43 ppts per carriage
Average 8.5 ppts in critical area

Question 5

Victims

Answer 5

• 4 male victims, aged 26-35, 3 white + 1 black, all identically dressed
• drunk - 38 trials, victim smelt of alcohol + carried bottle in brown bag
• cane - 65 trials, sober + carried cane

Question 6

Method

Answer 6

Field experiment, participant observation
Experimenters fake collapsed on NY underground trains, the number of people who helped + the time taken to help were recorded.
The race, apparent responsibility of victim (ill or drunk), the presence of a model helper + the number of passengers were varied.
Victim stood next to critical area, train passes 1st station + victim staggers + collapses, remains still + looking at ceiling until helped. If no help received when train stops model steps in

Question 7

Results

Answer 7

Diffusion of responsibility not evident: quickest help from largest groups
Helping behaviour very high
Cane victim helped in 62/65 trials
Drunk victim helped in 19/38
90% of helper = male, 64% helpers = white
Race had no effect, only in drunk trial
Model hardly used
Most non helpers (women) made comment on size or strength as excuse

Question 8

Data collected

Answer 8

103 trials. 11am - 3pm weekdays
7.5 minute journey
Observers sat in adjacent area + recorded