Piliavin et. al (Subway Samaritans)

Question 1

Bystander Effect

Answer 1

When people ignore strangers in need of help: either through embarrassment, fear, disinterest, disgust, or the belief that someone else will come to the rescue.

Question 2

Diffusion of Responsibility

Answer 2

A sociopsychological phenomenon whereby a person is less likely to take responsibility for action or inaction when other bystanders or witnesses are present.

Question 3

Aim

Answer 3

Investigate bystander effect in a natural setting (a New York subway).

Question 4

Influencing Factors

Answer 4

• Type of victim (drunk vs. ill).
• Race of victim (black vs. white).
• Behavior of a model (someone helping early or late).
• Size of bystander group (how many people present).

Question 5

Hypothesis

Answer 5

• Victims perceived as ill would be helped faster and more often than drunk victims.
• Same-race helping would be more likely (white bystanders helping white victims, etc.).
• The presence of a helping model would increase the likelihood of others helping.
• Larger groups would show diffusion of responsibility (slower helping).

Question 6

Independent Variables

Answer 6

The 4 manipulated factors:

• Type of victim (drunk vs. ill).
• Race of victim (black vs. white).
• Model behavior (early help vs. late help vs. no model).
• Size of group (number of passengers in the carriage).

Question 7

Dependent Variables

Answer 7

The measured outcomes:

• Time taken to help.
• Total number of helpers.
• Race and gender of helpers.
• Number who left the critical area.
• Verbal comments made by passengers.

Question 8

Method

Answer 8

• Field Experiment: Conducted in a natural setting (NYC subway).
• Independent Groups Design: Each trial involved different passengers.
• Data was collected via observations from covert female researchers (observers).
• Both quantitative (time to help, number of helpers) and qualitative (bystanders’ verbal remarks) data were gathered.

Question 9

Procedure

Answer 9

1. 4 teams of student researchers (2 female observers, 1 male victim, 1 male model).
2. Boarded the subway at the same station for each trial (Harlem to Bronx).
3. 70 seconds into the journey, the victim collapsed in the critical area.
4. If no passenger helped within 70 or 150 seconds, the model helped.
5. Victim either:
   Looked ill (carried cane).
   Appeared drunk (carried bottle in paper bag).
6. Observers recorded:
   Who helped (race, gender).
   Time taken to help.
   Any verbal comments made.

Question 10

Sample

Answer 10

• Opportunity Sample: Unsolicited passengers riding the NYC subway between Harlem and the Bronx, weekdays 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Estimated total: 4,450 participants.
• Roughly 55% white, 45% black.
• Average: 43 passengers per trial, 8.5 people in the critical area (near victim).

Question 11

Data

Answer 11

• Time taken to help.
• Number of helpers.
• Race/gender of helpers.
• Number who left critical area.
• Qualitative Data:
• Verbal comments from bystanders.

Question 12

Materials

Answer 12

• Cane for ill condition.
• An alcohol bottle in a paper bag for the drunk condition.

Question 13

Conclusion

Answer 13

• Some predictions confirmed (ill victims helped faster, modeling encouraged helping).
• Some contradicted (diffusion of responsibility not shown in natural setting).