The Bystander Effect
Click the Poster to View Full Screen, Right click to save image
Alejandra Monsalve
College:
College of Liberal Arts
Major:
Psychology/Forensic Psychology
Faculty Research Advisor(s):
Christine Doyle
Abstract:
This study was carried out to review the results of the hypothesis that individuals are more likely to intervene while seeing a crime take place if they are alone versus if they are witnessing a crime while mixed within a crowd of bystanders using a Paired Sample t-Test. The materials included were a consent form and a debriefing form. There were 66 participants in the study. The way that they were divided was by using 2 sections, 1 that asked questions as if the participant was alone and the second section being if the participant was among a crowd. There was a statistically significant difference, but the results do not support the hypothesis. What went right in the experiment was by placing the video twice, participants had the chance to watch it in two different mindsets instead of having to recall what happened. Not knowing the specific environment the participant was in impacted the study, not knowing if they were distracted when watching the video and risking them not seeing the harm done in the video. Ideas for the future may include controlling where the participant watches the video. For future research, studying the area the participant lives in could give insight on their likelihood of helping.