A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

Which of the following was considered a limitation of the Piliavin et al study regarding participants' reactions?

1. Participants showed excessive agitation

2. Participants might have found the scenario distressing

3. Participants overanalyzed the situation

4. Participants had prior knowledge of social behaviors

The correct answer is: Participants might have found the scenario distressing

The chosen answer highlights a significant consideration in the research conducted by Piliavin et al. The scenario they presented involved a person collapsing on a subway train, a situation designed to elicit reactions from bystanders. Some participants may have found this distressing due to the nature of the event, as it could evoke feelings of anxiety, concern, or discomfort in witnessing apparent emergencies. This emotional response could impact their actual behavior, potentially leading to different actions than they would take in a real, less distressing scenario. Understanding the emotional context for participants is essential in psychological studies, especially those examining social behavior and bystander intervention. If participants were distressed, they might not have engaged with the situation as fully or may have taken longer to react, thereby complicating the interpretation of the results. The findings could, therefore, reflect participants' emotional reactions rather than purely social behaviors in emergencies, making it a noteworthy limitation of the study.