A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

What was one potential weakness noted in Piliavin's study?

1. The sample size was too small

2. It only took place in one location

3. The environmental cues were too controlled

4. All participants were aware of the study

The correct answer is: It only took place in one location

The noted potential weakness in Piliavin's study is that it only took place in one location. Conducting the study in a single environment, specifically on the New York City subway, raises concerns about the generalizability of the findings. It becomes challenging to determine whether the results would be consistent in different settings or cultures. For example, social behavior and responses to emergencies can vary significantly between urban and rural settings, or among different cities and their respective cultural contexts. By limiting the research to one specific place, the study may overlook these variations, making it hard to apply the results broadly to all social contexts. Regarding the other options, while a small sample size can impact the reliability of findings, Piliavin's research had a relatively large sample, which allows for more confidence in the outcomes. Controlled environmental cues are beneficial in reducing extraneous variables, and the study design accounted for ethical concerns, which is crucial in psychological research. Finally, not all participants were aware of the study's purpose, as it was structured as a natural experiment, which enhances the ecological validity of the findings.