Piliavin Helping Behaviour on a Train

• Aim

  To investigate factors affecting helping behaviour.
• Procedure

  • Confederates pretended to collapse on a train (appearing drunk or ill).
  • Observers recorded if people helped.
• Findings

  • Ill people were helped more than drunk people.
  • Men were more likely to help.
• Strengths

  • High ecological validity: Real-life setting.
  • Large sample: Many people were observed.
• Weaknesses

  • Ethical issues: Participants didn’t consent.
  • Observer bias: Researchers might have interpreted behaviours subjectively.