Psychology of the Kitty Genovese Incident

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Questions and Answers

What event sparked the investigation into the behavior of bystanders in emergency situations?

A study on group psychology

The development of the scientific method

The murder of Kitty Genovese (correct)

An experiment involving confederates

What hypothesis was formed regarding bystander intervention?

Bystanders are more likely to intervene when alone.

More bystanders increase the likelihood of help.

Diffusion of responsibility decreases helping behavior. (correct)

The presence of confederates has no effect on helping behavior.

What was the main method used to test the hypothesis in the research?

Creating a simulated emergency in a controlled environment (correct)

Surveying bystanders after real emergencies

Observing naturalistic behaviors in public spaces

Conducting interviews with witnesses

What effect was observed in the study regarding helping behavior?

Helping behavior decreased as perceived bystander numbers increased. Signup and view all the answers

During the experiment, what role did the 'confederate' play?

A participant faking an emergency Signup and view all the answers

In the scientific method, what is the purpose of analyzing data?

To determine if the hypothesis is supported or not Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'diffusion of responsibility' in the context of the bystander effect?

With more witnesses, individuals feel less personal responsibility. Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step in the scientific method as outlined in the research process?

Identify a question of interest Signup and view all the answers

What is the operational definition of a variable?

A variable defined in terms of specific procedures used for measurement Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a method of measuring variables?

Psychological profiling Signup and view all the answers

What limitation is associated with self-report methods?

They may be influenced by social desirability bias Signup and view all the answers

Which type of variable measurement involves recording actual behavior?

Behavioral Signup and view all the answers

What is a common limitation of physiological measurement methods?

They do not necessarily explain mental events Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding the methods of measurement?

Both the interviewer and participant can influence self-report results Signup and view all the answers

What information can be gathered through self-report methods?

Knowledge, beliefs, feelings, and experiences Signup and view all the answers

What is required to ensure the reliability of behavioral measurements?

A systematic coding system Signup and view all the answers

What method can be used to reduce effects like boredom and fatigue in testing?

Using different orders of testing Signup and view all the answers

What is the main concern with confounded variables in experiments?

They create unintended differences that confuse results Signup and view all the answers

What type of improvement is referred to as the placebo effect?

Improvement from expectation of improvement Signup and view all the answers

In a study where one group listens to Mozart and another relaxes, what ability was reportedly tested?

Spatial ability Signup and view all the answers

What does reliability in research indicate?

The consistency of results across similar studies Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary concern regarding validity in experimental procedures?

Whether the experiment actually tests what it is designed to test Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a factor that can threaten research validity?

Random sampling Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential solution to overcome the placebo effect?

Implementing controls or blind trials Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant limitation of case studies?

They may suffer from researcher bias. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a benefit of naturalistic observation?

It provides rich descriptions of behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is required for a sample to be considered representative?

It must reflect important characteristics of the population. Signup and view all the answers

What does a positive correlation indicate between two variables?

Both variables vary in the same direction Signup and view all the answers

What is a major downside of surveys?

Responses may not accurately reflect participants' opinions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the range of values for a correlational coefficient, r?

-1.0 to +1.0 Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of correlational studies?

They explore relationships between variables. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of correlational research?

To determine if an association exists between variables Signup and view all the answers

In research, what is meant by 'unobtrusive measures'?

Strategies that do not influence participant behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What was a notable issue with the Hite Report conducted in 1987?

It identified respondents from women’s magazines. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about the strength of correlation is correct?

A correlation of -0.9 indicates a stronger relationship than 0.5 Signup and view all the answers

What does a negative correlation signify?

As one variable increases, the other variable decreases Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following scenarios demonstrates a positive correlation?

Higher temperatures and increased ice cream sales Signup and view all the answers

What is a key limitation of correlational research?

It does not indicate whether one variable causes the other Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by a correlational coefficient of 0.00?

No relationship between the variables Signup and view all the answers

Which research method is likely most effective for understanding the 'why' behind behaviors?

Experimental methods Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Kitty Genovese Incident

In March 1964, Kitty Genovese was stabbed and raped in New York City on her way home.
The attack lasted 30 minutes and involved repeated stabbings.
38 neighbours heard the screams and pleas for help, but no one intervened.
The incident sparked debate about the psychology of bystander apathy and the diffusion of responsibility.

The Scientific Method

A systematic approach to understanding phenomena.
Strives to minimize biases, personal beliefs, and emotions.
Aims to identify questions of interest, gather information, form hypotheses, test hypotheses, analyze data, and build a body of knowledge.

Initial Observation and Question

The Kitty Genovese incident sparked a question: Why did no one help?

Form Hypothesis

A specific, testable prediction.
Example: If multiple bystanders are present, then a diffusion of responsibility will decrease each bystander's likelihood of intervening.

Testing the Hypothesis

Researchers created a simulated emergency in a laboratory setting.
Undergraduates in separate rooms talked to each other via intercom.
A confederate (researcher posing as a participant) faked a seizure, asking for help.
The number of other participants the subject believed to be present was manipulated.
The number of subjects who helped was measured.

Analyze Data

Helping decreased as the perceived number of bystanders increased, supporting the hypothesis of diffusion of responsibility.

Further Research

Additional studies supported the hypothesis in various situations.
The findings led to the development of the theory of social impact.

Defining & Measuring Variables

Variable: Any characteristic that can vary (e.g., stress, weight, reaction time).
Operational definition: Defines a variable in terms of specific procedures used to produce or measure it.

Methods of Measurement

Self-report: Individuals report their knowledge, beliefs, feelings, and experiences.
- Can be gathered through interviews, questionnaires, and psychological tests.
- Limitations: Social desirability bias and interviewer bias.
Physiological: Measures biological responses.
- Examples: Blood pressure, hormonal secretions, brain activity.
- Limitations: Physiological responses do not always explain mental events.
Behavioral: Records observable actions.
- Requires coding systems for consistent measurement.
- Limitations: Observer bias and reactivity (changing behavior due to being observed).
- Unobtrusive measures help mitigate some limitations.

Methods of Research

Descriptive Research: Describes behavior in natural settings.
- Examples: Case studies, naturalistic observation, and surveys.
Correlational Studies: Examine relationships between variables.
- Do not establish cause-and-effect relationships.
Experimental Methods: Investigate cause-and-effect relationships.
- Involve manipulating an independent variable to observe its effect on a dependent variable.

Case Studies

In-depth analysis of an individual's behaviors and experiences.
Advantages: Useful for studying rare phenomena and providing a starting point for further research.
Disadvantages: Limited generalizability and potential for researcher bias.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing behavior in a natural setting.
Advantages: Provides rich description of behavior in a real-world context.
Disadvantages: Time-consuming, potential for researcher influence on behavior, and primarily descriptive (cannot explain "why").

Surveys

Gather data from individuals through questionnaires.
Widely used in many fields of psychology.
Useful for describing attributes of a population.
Population: Entire group of interest.
Sample: Subset of the population selected to complete the survey.

Representative Sample

Essential for drawing conclusions that apply to the entire population.
Random sampling techniques (e.g., selecting every 10th person) help ensure a representative sample.

Hite Report (1987)

Surveyed 100,000 women about their relationships.
Found that most women were unhappy.
The sample was not representative because only 1% of the survey recipients responded, leading to potential bias.

Correlational Research

Studies relationships between variables.
Goal is to determine if an association exists between variables.
Does not establish causality.
Variables are not manipulated, only measured.

Correlational Coefficient (r)

A statistical measure of the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables.
Ranges from -1.0 to +1.0.

Direction of Correlation

Positive (+) indicates that both variables vary in the same direction (one increases, the other increases).
Negative (-) indicates that variables vary in opposite directions (one increases, the other decreases).

Strength of Correlation

The absolute value of the coefficient (ignoring the sign) indicates the strength of the relationship.
Higher absolute values indicate stronger relationships.
A correlation of 0.00 means no relationship.

Confounded Variables

Unintended differences between conditions that can potentially influence the dependent variable.
Can make it difficult to interpret experimental results.
Critical to ensure that the independent variable, not a confounded variable, is responsible for any observed effects.

Placebo Effect

Improved outcomes resulting from the expectation of improvement, even if the treatment is not effective.
To control for the placebo effect, researchers often use control groups that receive a placebo (fake treatment) to compare their outcomes to the experimental group.

Validity and Reliability

Validity: How accurately an experimental procedure tests what it is intended to test.
- Is the study measuring what it claims to measure?
Reliability: How consistent the results are with other similar studies.
- Do the results replicate across multiple trials or studies?

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Description

Explore the psychological concepts surrounding the Kitty Genovese incident, a pivotal case that raises questions about bystander apathy and responsibility. This quiz delves into the scientific method and critical thinking in understanding human behavior in emergency situations.