A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

During which time frame did the Piliavin et al. study take place?

1. 1 month

2. 2 months

3. 3 months

4. 6 months

The correct answer is: 3 months

The Piliavin et al. study, commonly known for its exploration of the bystander effect in a subway setting, was conducted over a time frame of about three months. This duration was necessary to gather enough observational data on the reactions of passengers in real-life scenarios involving a person in distress. Three months allowed the researchers to systematically observe and record the responses of bystanders to various staged emergencies. This time frame provided a robust set of data that helped the researchers analyze factors such as the influence of the victim's appearance and the characteristics of the bystanders on their willingness to intervene. A shorter duration may not have yielded sufficient instances for effective analysis, while a longer duration may have introduced variability in the environment, which could affect the reliability of the study.