Psychology 9-1 GCSE - 

5.2.1 - Piliavin et al (1969) Good Samaritanism: An Underground Phenomenon?:

Aims - 

To investigate factors affecting helping behavior.

Procedures -  

They investigated helping behavior with:

1. The type of victim (drunk or ill).

2. The race of the victim (black or white).

3. The speed of helping.

4. The frequency of helping.

5. The race of the helper.

It investigated this on a train on a 5-7 minute journey.

Results - 

Helping behavior was a lot higher than previous laboratory studies. They did not investigate the effects of the models helping as people stepped in before the model could. Race had no effects on the results. But there was a slight tendency for some race helping. Diffusion of responsibility was not present the more bystanders there were.

Conclusions -

Observation of an emergency situation creates an emotional arousal in bystanders. State of arousal can be effected by factors like; if you see yourself in the victim, being close to the emergency, the length of time it occurs for. It can be reduced by; seeking help from another source, leaving the scene, deciding the person dosen't deserve help. It depends on the cost-reward whether you react or not. 

Strengths - 

• The study was done in a natural setting.
• Participants (people on the train), were blind to the study, increasing validity.
• Sample size was very large. 

Weaknesses - 

• The participants did not consent to being part of a study.
• It was in a very small area.
• Some people may have been present more than once.