During Piliavin et al.'s (1969) subway Samaritan study, researchers examined the effect of group size on bystander intervention. Which of the following statements best describes their findings regarding the 'diffusion of responsibility'?
Help was significantly slower to arrive in larger groups than in smaller groups, which supported the classic diffusion of responsibility hypothesis.
Help was actually faster to arrive when there were more passengers present in the carriage, which contradicts the expected diffusion of responsibility effect.
Diffusion of responsibility was only observed when the victim was drunk, meaning larger groups only delayed help for the less responsible-looking victim.
Diffusion of responsibility occurred regardless of the victim's condition, showing that group size is the primary determinant of bystander inaction in public spaces.
105 exam-style questions on OCR A Level Psychology Responses to people in need, covering Piliavin et al. (1969): Subway Samaritan and Levine et al. (2001): Cross-cultural altruism. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.