PILLIAVIN STUDY

Aim, Background, an Research Method

100

What was the aim of the study?

To investigate bystander effect on a natural field of study

200

What type of experiment is this? And where was it conducted?

Field Experiment in New York City

300

What was the Research Design? IV and DV?

Independent groups design

Independent variables:

• Type of victim – drunk or ill
• Race of victim – black or white
• Model behavior – close or distant proximity/helping early or late
• Size of bystander group (naturally occurring)

Dependent Variables:

• Time taken for passenger to help
• Total number of passengers who offered help
• Verbal remarks/comments were recorded

400

What was the psychology being investigated?

Bystander Effect and Diffusion of Responsibility

500

What is the background of the study?

The Kitty Genovese Murder

Sample

100

How many participants?

4450(45% black, 55% white)

200

SURPRISE!

What are the main assumptions of the social approach?

• Behaviors, conditions and emotions are influenced by social contexts, social environments and groups
• Behavior, cognitions and emotions are influenced by the actual, implied or imagined presence of others.

300

What type of sample was it?

Opportunity Sample

400

What time was the train traveling?

11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

500

Where was the train traveling between?

Between Harlem and Bronx on weekdays 

Procedure

100

How were critical trials split?

1. Critical/early: the model stood in the critical area and waited 70 seconds to help the victim.
2. Critical/late: the model stood in the critical area and waited 150 seconds to help the victim.

200

How were adjacent trials split?

• Adjacent/early: the model stood in the adjacent area and waited 70 seconds to help the victim.
• Adjacent/late: the model stood in the adjacent area and waited 150 seconds to help the victim.

300

Explain the 4 research teams

4 teams of 4 student researchers from the University of Columbia carried out the study. Females were observers. The male confederates took the role of the victim or the model.

Observer: Both females were confederates who observed and recorded data. Females sat in the area adjacent to the immediate critical area.

Victim: The victim was played by four different men, 1 black and 3 white. Ages 26-35 years. Dressed in an Eisenhower jacket, old trousers, and no tie. A total of 103 trials (In 38 victims were drunk and In 65 victims were ill). 

Drunk = smelled of alcohol and carried a bottle wrapped in a brown bag.

Ill = carried a black cane

Model: They were white males aged 24 – 29 and were dressed informally. They raised the victim to the sitting position and stayed with him till the next stop.

400

What happened when there was no model?

The model did not help the victim until after the trial was over and the train reached the next stop.

500

Explain the Scene

• Females observed passengers and recorded the race, gender, and location of each helper.
• The victim stood at the pole at the center of the critical area. The model remained standing throughout the trial.
• Each trial used the same route as it included a 7.5-minute gap between 2 stations.
• At approximately 70 seconds, the victim staggered forward and collapsed. He laid on the floor looking upwards.
•  If he received no help, the model would help him at the next stop. When ‘modelling’ helping, the model helped the victim to a sitting position and stayed with him until the next stop.

Results and Conclusions

100

Percentage of how many received spontaneous help? Percentage of how many victims received help from more than one person?

80% and 60%

200

Ill trials received help? Drunk trails received helps?

62/65 ill trials received help

19/38 drunk trials received help

300

Explain the main Conclusion

In a natural setting, many people would offer spontaneous help to a stranger, even in a group situation.

400

Was diffusion of responsibility found?

No

500

Factors that may determine the decision to help?

Type of victim (people with canes are more likely to be helped rather than a drunk victim)

Gender of helper (men are more likely to offer help)

Similar race (more help is given to a similar race, especially for drunk victims)

The longer the emergency continues, the less likely it is for someone to help. They would cope with arousal in other ways.

Strengths and Weakness

100

One strength in Ethics and One in weakness

Strength:

Nobody was hurt

Participant confidentiality

Weakness:

No consent

No debrief

Deceived

Suffered psychological distress

200

One strength in Generalizability and One weakness.

Strength:

Large sample size

Different ethnicites

Weakness:

All from the local area of New York

300

One strength in Applicability and One weakness

Strength:

Help in an immediate emergency

Weakness:

Individuals might not offer help if they are intimated, embarrassed, or disgusted by their victim.

400

One strength in Validity and One weakness.

Strength:

A field experiments

Ecological validity

The participant’s behavior was natural

Weakness:

Lack of control of extraneous variables

500

One strength in Reliability and One weakness.

Strength:

Standardized procedures

Inter-observer reliability

Weakness:

Lack of control of extraneous variables