Social-Piliavin Bystander Experiment Flashcards
What was the method that was used for the Piliavin study?
Experimenters faked a collapse on a New York underground trains, and the number of people helping and the time taken were recorded. The race of the victim, presence of a helper, and the number of passengers present varied.
What was the aim of the Bystander study ?
To study factors that affect bystander behaviour, specifically under circumstances of a person collapsing on a New York subway train,and whether his race, responsibility of collapse (drunk or ill) or number of people present would affect helping.
What were the results of the bystander study?
In total, 78% of victims received help. Help was much more likely to be reviewed if the victim appeared ill than drunk. There was also some increased tendency to help those those of their own race, and the number of bystanders made very little difference. The cost/win dilemma also most likely had something to do with their decisions
What were the conclusions that were taken from the bystander study?
Provided people are in a closed environment where they cannot simply leave, they are likely to help victims. Helping is most likely when the victims are seen as not being responsible for their situation (so ill) and race of the victim is the same as the helper
What was the design of the experiment?
The study was a field experiment carried out on a New York subway, with some elements of a observation. The observation was structured and covert.
Who were the participants for the Bystander Study?
An estimated total of passengers that were on the trains that travelled during the experiment were 4,450, who were regarded as ‘unsolicited participants’. An average of 43 participants were thought to be on each carriage, and the racial mix of participants was 45% black and 55% white
