Piliavin et al. (subway Samaritans)

Piliavin et al. (subway Samaritans).

• Piliavin, I M, Rodin, J and Piliavin, J A (1969), Good Samaritanism: An Underground Phenomenon? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 13(4): 289-99.
• The study by Piliavin et al. tested bystander apathy. The study investigated how bystanders behave in real life situations and the factors that can affect their desire to help. This includes considering diffusion of responsibility. The study was a field experiment and used observations as a technique.
• The psychology being investigated includes: bystander apathy; diffusion of responsibility.
• For this study, candidates should understand the background, aims, procedure and methodology as appropriate (research method, sample and demographics, sampling technique, experimental design, controls, question types, data-collection technique, and measured and manipulated variables), ethical issues, quantitative and qualitative results and their representation and interpretation, conclusions, and strengths and weaknesses; describe and evaluate the methodology; and relate the study to psychological issues and debates.

This matters because piliavin et al. (subway samaritans) determines what can be inferred or chosen; begin with the stated conditions and keep the conclusion tied to the evidence.

Example: apply piliavin et al. (subway samaritans) to one small, clearly defined case, show the key step or comparison, and explain the result in words.

Boundary: Piliavin et al. (subway Samaritans) is not a universal recommendation. Check the syllabus scope, assumptions, units and the limits of the evidence before generalising.