Study set up
Where did Piliavin take place?
A New York City subway train.
What was the IV in the study?
Type of victim and model behavior.
Which victim received more help?
Ill Victim.
Define "bystander effect."
The tendency for people to be less likely to help in a group.
Was informed consent obtained?
No, it was a covert observation.
How many researchers were involved in each trial?
4
What was the DV in the study?
The time taken to help and the number of people who helped.
95%
What is a "model" in the context of this study?
A confederate who offers help in a controlled way.
What is one ethical issue with the study?
Deception and lack of informed consent.
What is the average duration of the train journey?
7.5 minutes.
How was the "model" manipulated?
Varying the timing and location of help.
Was diffusion of responsibility found?
No it was not supported
What is "diffusion of responsibility"?
The belief that someone else will help, reducing personal responsibility.
Why is the study said to have high ecological validity?
What are two conditions used to represent the victim?
Drunk & Ill
What demographic details were recorded about the participants?
Gender, Race, and location in the train.
Which group was more likely to help same-race victims?
White and black participants showed same-race helping tendencies.
Define "field experiment".
An experiment conducted in a real-world setting.
What limits the generalizability of most findings?
Most passengers were urban, so results do not apply to all.
What kind of experiment was it?
Field experiment.
How was the emergency situation stages?
What was a surprising social influence finding in the study?
The presence of others INCREASED likelihood of help.
What is "participant observation?"
When researchers observe behavior while being part of the setting.
Name a strength and weakness.
Strength: Realistic setting.
Weakness: Ethical issues.