Piliavin Flashcards
What was the background of this study?
March 1964 young woman called Kitty Genovese was fatally stabbed in NYC. It was suggested that there were 38 witnesses who did nothing until it was to late. Why did no one help?
diffusion of responsibility
No one helps because everyone thinks someone else will do it, and the more people there are present the less responsibility each person feels and thus the less likely they are to help
What is the aim of the study regarding diffusion of responsibility?
- Whether diffusion of responsibility applies to all situations
- What other factors might influence helping behavior.
What hypothesis is being tested in the study?
Piliavin
‘People who are responsible for their own plight receive less help.’
What was the method used by Piliavin?
+ how many trials
- Field experiment
- 103 trials over 3 months
What type of sample was used in the study?
An who was it?
- Opportunity sample
- Passengers on the train.
What was the sample of Piliavin’s study?
Where were they? When?
- Passengers travelling by subway
Extra:
- Between Harlem and Bronx
- Weekdays between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM
What were the time parameters for the sample collection?
Pilliavin
Between 11 am and 3 pm.
How many participants were there in total?
Pilliavin
4450 participants.
What was the average number of people per compartment during each trial?
Piliavin
43 people.
How long did each trial last?
7 1/2 minutes.
How many students boarded the train separately during each trial?
- 4
What roles did the female students play during the trials?
- observers.
What roles did the male students play during the trials?
- One acted as a confederate (role model)
- another as a victim.
How many different teams were involved in the study?
- 4 different teams.
Was there a black victim in the study?
Yes, one of the teams had a black victim.
What were the two conditions used to test the hypothesis?
- Drunk condition
- Cane condition
What characterized the drunk condition in the experiment?
Victim:
- Smelled of alcohol
- Carried a bottle wrapped in a brown paper bag.
What characterized the cane condition in the experiment?
Victim:
- Appeared sober
- Carried a cane.
What happened 70 seconds after the train pulled away from the station?
The male victim staggered and collapsed.
What was the purpose of the role model stepping in to help?
To see if a ‘model’ (someone offering help) affected the behavior of other passengers.
What did the observers record during the procedure?
They recorded how long it took for passengers to help, as well as information about the race, gender, and location of all passengers and those who offered help.
What additional information did the observers note?
They noted any comments as well as who moved away in each condition.
What percentage of cane victims received spontaneous help?
0.95
