The document describes a study on the bystander effect conducted at Taylor's University. The study involved staging a laptop theft in public areas on campus and observing 127 participants' reactions. The results showed that females and individuals alone were more likely to notice the theft, with two females taking action. Those in groups were less likely to notice or help. The study supports the hypothesis that people are less likely to help when in a group than alone.
1. What Would They Do?
A Social Psychology Experiment
[ Bystander Effect ]
Zoe Kan0313630
Tan Wen Hao
0313690
Phua Jing Sern 0314572
CheahTeck Wei
0315215
Parham Farhadpoor 0313698
3. Acknowledgement
A great gratitude within group members, Phua Jing Sern, CheahTeck Wei, Zoe Kan, Parham
Farhadpoor and Tan Wen Hao. Special thanks to Ms. Chia Yee Pang for giving us the support
and guidance in accomplishing this assignment. Additionally we would also like to thanks the
participants involved in this study for their kind cooperation.
4. Abstract
Students in Taylorâs University tend to take the safety of their belongings for granted, making
assumptions that their belongings would be safe when left unattended in an open area. The aim for
this experiment was to investigate if the bystanders would take action to the situation when
belongings are being stolen.
Thehypothesismade is that bystanders who are alone will take action to the situation and that they
normally inform the victim first instead of catching the suspect straight away. Theresearch method
was qualitative and quantitative as the recorded data can be quantified (male/female alone/in a group)
and qualities by recording down the factors. This was a bystanderâs effect experiment. There were 127
participants in total, 66 male and 61 females. Females react faster than male in the situation. In
conclusion, most females who are alone, will take action by informing the victim straight away. The
hypothesis is accepted. In conclusion to the aim, bystanders do take action depending on various
factors.
6. Method
Design:
A scenario experiment is designed, aiming for both staffs and student of Taylorâs University
where the relationship between the outcome reactions of students and the amount of people
present is observed and recorded. Taylorâs University students are to witness a âcrimeâ
situation performed by our members and observation is made. One of the extraneous
variables is the inconsistent focus between the participantsâ current attention and his/her
environment happenings.As this fault can lead to unstable results, we told our âthiefâ to be
more obvious in terms of creating a scene while stealing, increasing the chance of gaining
attention from the people.
Participants:
Our target setting is limited within the boundaries of Taylorâs University Lakeside Campus,
aiming both students and staffs. Race, Gender, Age group, Grouping (Alone/In Group) and
Reactions are the key points in our recording table. A hidden camera is carefully placed
around the happening area to record the participantsâ physical traits and reaction.
MaterialsïŒ
A laptop is used as a means to portray a precious belonging that will be stolen by our thief,
and a camera is used to record the results. Laptop is used because it is big enough to gain
attention from the participants, a better option than belongings like smartphones and wallets
as they are too small. Our thief is dressed and disguised in very suspicious hooded and
shaded attire so that higher attention can be gained.
7. Procedures:
1.
The team was assigned into different roles: a videographer, a âvictimâ, a âthiefâ, and
two on-site analysers.
2.
An appropriate setting was chosen to perform the experiment.
3.
Each of us entered the chosen setting one by one to avoid suspicious planed activity;
by sequence: The âthiefâ tailgates the âvictimâ, followed by the videographer who
covers the area with appropriate camera placement, and finally the two analysers.
4.
The âvictimâ was carefully seated around the populated area to increase exposure,
while the âthiefâ was placed in the corner so that movement is needed to âstealâ the
laptop, as this increased the exposure contacted with the participants. The
videographer and analysers were randomly seated as well
5.
All the participantsâ physical traits (Race, Gender, Age group, Grouping) within the
selected area are recorded down by the analysers.
6.
As the actors are properly placed, a signal is given by the videographer to signify the
initiation of the crime scenario and all activities are recorded.
7.
The âvictimâ leaved the area with her bags and other belongings, but left her laptop
behind.
8.
After a delay, the âthiefâ then walked towards the laptop and grabbed away in an
incognito but slightly obvious way.
9.
The reactions of the participants presented in the area were recorded by the analysers
and video footage was recorded.
10.
After the scenario was completed, the analysers proceeded to stand out and informed
the participants that everything happened earlier were staged.
11.
Steps 1-10 were repeated in different settings to obtain various outcomes.
8. Results
Overall Amount of Participantsâ and Races
Chinese
Malay
Indian
Foreigners
87
15
6
19
Total
127
Figure 1
12. Participants Who Took Action
Male
Female
0
2
Figure 5
But based on the results of Figure 5, out of 127 of different participants, only 2 Females took
action with fast reaction time.
14. Reactions From A Group
No Reaction
Noticed
Reacted
31
8
0
Figure 7
Based on the results obtained in Figure 7, less than 20% of the grouped participants actually
noticed the victimâs laptop got stolen
15. Reactions From Individuals
No Reaction
Noticed (No Reaction)
Reacted
5
2
2
Figure 8
But for the individuals, almost 50% are aware that the thief has grabbed away the laptop
and 22% actually reacted to the situation with fast reaction.
18. Participant Information Letter
You have been invited to participate in a social psychology experiment of âThe Bystander
Effectâ conducted by Zoe Kan, Phua Jing Sern, Tan Wen Hao, CheahTeck Wei and Parham
Farhadpoor under the supervision of Ms. Chia Yee Pang at Taylorâs University Lakeside
Campus. This study is being conducted to fulfil the assignment requirements of Social
Psychology (PSYC0103) subject.
The researchers are interested in observing the reactions of staffs and students when
experiencing a âcrimeâ scenario performed by our group members. A video camera was
hidden from plain sight and all activities and reactions are recorded. After the âcrime
performance is complete, the researchers will reveal themselves and informed everyone in the
scene that it was all staged.
Participants will have all rights to have their face blurred off and researchers will absolutely
cause no harm towards the participants. All information collected will remain confidential
and anonymous against the public. Only the researchers and Ms Chia Yee Pang will have
access to the data for results marking reasons.
If you have any enquiries or concerns about this assignment, please contact our lecturer:
Ms Chia Yee Pang: chiayee.pang@taylors.edu.my.