subway Flashcards
What is the aim of the study?
The researchers aim to study bystander behavior in a natural setting and investigate the effect of four situational variables on helping behavior or Good Samaritans.
What is the result of the study?
Nearly 80% of items received spontaneous help, and in around 60% of cases, more than one person helped. The cane victim received help in 62/65 trials, while the drunk victim received help in 19/38 trials. In 20% of trials, people moved away from the critical area.
What is the conclusion of the study?
The study found that many people would offer spontaneous help to a stranger in a natural setting, with no evidence of diffusion of responsibility. Factors influencing decisions to help included the type of victim, gender of the helper, race, duration of the emergency, and coping with arousal.
What sampling technique was used in the study?
It was an opportunity sample.
What is one advantage of the sampling technique used in the study?
There is less risk of withdrawal from participants, and there are no demand characteristics as participants are unaware they are being observed.
Identify two features of the sample used in the study.
The sample was recruited from New York City and consisted of subway passengers, totaling approximately 4,450 people, with 45% being black and 55% white.
Define ‘Bystander’.
A person who is present at but may not be directly involved in a particular situation.
Define ‘Good Samaritan’.
It refers to a story of a Samaritan who stops to offer help to an injured stranger.
Define ‘Diffusion of responsibility’.
People are less likely to help in an emergency when there are more people around, believing others will help instead.
Define ‘Cost-benefit model’.
It involves a decision-making process where a person weighs the advantages and disadvantages of helping.
Explain the study in terms of individual and situational explanation.
Observers recorded comments from people about their helping or non-helping behavior, showing individual beliefs influenced their decisions. Situational factors, such as the race of the victim, affected helping behavior.
Describe the usefulness of the study to everyday life.
The findings can educate people about bystander intervention and encourage breaking stereotypes by teaching children to help others regardless of their identity.
What is meant by ‘critical area’ in the study?
The critical area refers to the place where the incident took place.
What are the four independent variables of the study?
The four independent variables include type of victim, responsibility, condition, and behavior of the victim; specifically, ill versus drunk, victim’s responsibility, race, presence of a model, and number of bystanders.
What is the dependent variable of the study?
The dependent variable (DV) was the level of bystander helping.
