Piliavin et al. study summary

Question 1

Procedure

Answer 1

• 103 trials carried out; 38 drunk and 65 ill
• there was 6 to 8 trials per day
• Teams of 4 entered the train, each to play their role for a 7 1/2 minute journey
• they will then leave the train to then repeat everything in the opposite direction
• The victim will stand next to a pole in the centre of the area called critical
• After 70 seconds the victim will collapse onto the floor until help is given
• if no one does help, when the train stops the model will help the victim and leave the train
• everything is then repeated on the return journey

Question 2

Materials

Answer 2

1. A costume for the “victim”; old trousers, no tie and an Eisenhower jacket
2. A costume for the “drunk” brown paper bag containing a bottle, the smell of alcohol
3. A costume for the “ill” a cane

Question 3

Aim

Answer 3

1. effect of the victim’s characteristics
2. effect of the bystander’s characteristics
3. the impact of situational factors

Question 4

Methodology

Answer 4

Setting - NYC subway, 7 1/2 minute ride
Variables - IVs: Victims condition, race, model helper presence, bystander crowd size
DVs: Time taken to help, number of helpers, bystander behaviour

Question 5

Data

Answer 5

Observer one:
- Race, sex and locations of the people in the critical area
- Total number of people in the car
- Number of people who helped, and their Race, sex and locations

Observer two:
- Race, sex, location of the people in the adjacent area
- Time taken to help (this can be after the collapse, and or after the model intervention

Data collected by both observers
- Both recorded comments made by other passengers, this was qualitative data

Question 6

Sample

Answer 6

Total participants: Around 4,500 subway passengers
- 45% Black
- 55% White
- there was a diverse range of ages and backgrounds

Question 7

Results

Answer 7

Overall - 81/103 victims had received help

Question 8

Results of the Drunk / ill condition

Answer 8

• The ill victim was more likely to receive help by 95% than a the drunk victim by 50%
• The ill victim is more likely to get spontaneous help by 87% rather than to the drunk victim by 17%

Question 9

Results of the “Race of victim”

Answer 9

• The black victim received help less quickly than the white victim

Question 10

Results of the Modeling

Answer 10

• The earlier model intervention by 70 seconds had a slightly more effect than the later model effect by 150 seconds
• Although, people normally helped before the model, so all the data set is too small to analyse

Question 11

Conclusion

Answer 11

1. The characteristics of a victim affect the decision to help
2. Men are more likely to offer help in this situation rather than the women
3. There was no evidence for diffusion of responsibility