In the Piliavin et al. study (subway Samaritans), there were a number of confederates playing different roles.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2018). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [4] (a) 1 mark for each correct point x4
2. (a) The females (confederates) sat in the adjacent area (to record data);
3. (a) The males (confederates) acted as if they were ‘drunk' or ‘ill' in the critical area;
4. (a) The confederate (victim) had to collapse/fall over;
5. (a) One of the males acted as a model and helped the victim (depending on the condition);
6. (a) The model was positioned in either the adjacent or critical area;
7. (a) One female (confederate) counted the number of individuals/total who helped/race, sex of helper;
8. (a) The other female (confederate) coded the race/sex/location of people in the adjacent area.
9. Level [8] (b) Criteria for each result:
10. Level 4 (4 marks per result): The result presented has a meaningful comparison and the candidate clearly explains what we have learned about bystander behaviour
11. Level 3 (3 marks per result): The result presented has a meaningful comparison and there is a brief attempt at explaining what we have learned about bystander behaviour; The result presented has no meaningful comparison but the candidate clearly explains what we have learned about bystander behaviour
12. Level 2 (2 marks per result): The result presented has a meaningful comparison but there is no attempt at explanation; The result presented is not clear but there is an implicit attempt at explaining what we have learned about bystander behaviour
13. Level 1 (1 mark per result): The result presented has no meaningful comparison or there is a basic attempt at explaining
14. Level 0 (0 marks per result): No creditworthy answer
15. (b) e.g. The (small) correlation between group size and helping behaviour was positive (rather than negative); People in groups of seven or more were consistently faster at responding than those in groups of 3. The correlation should have been negative as when group size increases, helping should decrease (if diffusion of responsibility was happening); Speed of helping should decrease with increased group size (if diffusion of responsibility was happening)
16. (b) e.g. In the no model present trials, 100% of the passengers came to help the victim who had a cane; This was irrespective of race of victim. This shows that people are willing to help someone who is perceived as being 'ill'; Therefore, people are likely to help others who look like they need help (and the problem is not self-inflicted).