Pilavin (evaluation)

Question 1

Name 3 Strengths of the study

Answer 1

1. Ecological validity
2. HIgh level of standardisation and reliability
3. Collection of quantitative andqualitative data

Question 2

Name 3 weaknesses of the study

Answer 2

• Feild experiments, extraneous varibles (validity)
• Poor generalisability
• Observer bias

Question 3

The study used a feild experiment method which is research conducted in a natural setting, thus it has high ecological validity.

Answer 3

1. Conducted on a NYC subway train captured authentic behaviours/ reactions of bysanders. (enhances ecological validity/ valuble insight into bystander behaviour outside a controlled lab setting)
2. Ppts unware they were being studied ( lowers demand characteristics/ comfirmed by teh qualitative data)

Question 4

The study utilised standardised measures thus enhacing the reliability of the research

Answer 4

• Standardised clothing and behaviour (the victim always wore jacket/ old trousers/ tie and behaved in the same way according to the “critical/early” schedules. (minimies biases/ varibility)
• Standardised duration of the trials. The same route was used that included a 7.5 min gap (alllows direct comparisons)

Question 5

The study collected both quantitative data which increases the objectivity of the results but also the qualitative data which allows for a more holsitic picture of the behaviour and thoughts behind helping behaviours.

Answer 5

• The main measurment of bystander helping was the number of helpers/ how long they took to help. (this is an quantitative measure that enhances objectivity)
• The observers recorded the remarks/movements of ppts forming qualitative data (proposed cost-benift analysis)

Question 6

The study used a feild experiment methodolgy which comes with limitations as some varibles cannot be pratically controlled lowering the validity/ realibility of the study

Answer 6

• Extraneous varibles like weather changes/ train delays couldn’t be controlled and thsu could have affected the ppts behaviours
• Researchers couldn’t be sure ppts took part in the experiment only once, as the same route was used the same time. ppts could have been exosed to more that 1 condition thus may be less/more inclided to help creating demand characteristics

Question 7

The sample yeileded low population validity and thus cannot be generalised adequelty to broader populations of peopel

Answer 7

• The sample only consisted of passengers on a NYC subway (not generalisable to the upper class, rural areas, other countries/ cultures)

Question 8

There may have been a risk of obsever bias which could have lowered the valdity the study

Answer 8

• In the study there were 2 confederate female observers who observed and recorded data for each trial.
• As they were aware if the study’s aims and purposes their observations and interpretations may have been affected by their knowledge and expectations,
• this creates the risk of observer vias as the observations may have been unintentionally skewed to align with the study’s hypotheses