Editing Bystander effect (section)

===Organizational ombuds practitioners' research===
A 2009 study published by [[International Ombudsman Association]] in the ''Journal of the International Ombudsman Association'' suggests that—in reality—there are dozens of reasons why people do not act on the spot or come forward in the workplace when they see behavior they consider unacceptable.<ref name="ioa2009">{{Cite journal |title=Dealing with—or Reporting—'Unacceptable' Behavior—with additional thoughts about the 'Bystander Effect' |year=2009 |first1=Mary |last1=Rowe |first2=Linda |last2=Wilcox |first3=Howard |last3=Gadlin |journal=Journal of the International Ombudsman Association |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=52–64 |url=http://web.mit.edu/ombud/publications/coming-forward.pdf }}</ref> The most important reasons cited for not acting were: the fear of loss of important relationships in and out of the workplace, and a fear of "bad consequences". There also were many reasons given by people who did act on the spot or come forward to authorities.

This practitioners' study suggests that the "bystander effect" can be studied and analyzed in a much broader fashion. The broader view includes not just a) what bystanders do in singular emergencies, b) helping strangers in need, when c) there are (or are not) other people around. The reactions of bystanders can also be analyzed a) when the bystanders perceive any of a wide variety of unacceptable behavior over time, b) they are within an organizational context, and c) with people whom they know. The practitioners' study reported many reasons why some bystanders within organizations do not act or report unacceptable behavior. The study also suggests that bystander behavior is, in fact, often helpful, in terms of ''acting on the spot to help'' and ''reporting'' unacceptable behavior (and emergencies and people in need.) The ombuds practitioners' study suggests that what bystanders will do in real situations is actually very complex, reflecting views of the context and their managers (and relevant organizational structures if any) and also many personal reasons.

In support of the idea that some bystanders do indeed act responsibly, [[Gerald Koocher]] and Patricia Keith Spiegel wrote a 2010 article related to an NIH-funded study which showed that informal intervention by peers and bystanders can interrupt or remedy unacceptable scientific behavior.<ref>Koocher, G. and Spiegel, K. S. "Peers Nip Misconduct in the Bud". (July 22, 2010) ''Nature'' 438–440, 466</ref>