Editing Bystander effect (section)

===Non-computer versus computers: computer mediated intervention===
Research suggests that the bystander effect may be present in [[computer-mediated communication]] situations.<ref name="Markey">{{cite journal | last1 = Markey | first1 = P.M. | year = 2000 | title = Bystander intervention in computer-mediated communication | journal = Computers in Human Behavior | volume = 16 | issue = 2| pages = 183–188 | doi = 10.1016/S0747-5632(99)00056-4 | citeseerx = 10.1.1.487.8124 }}</ref> Evidence demonstrates that people can be bystanders even when they cannot see the person in distress. In the experiment, 400 online chat groups were observed. One of two confederates were used as victims in each chat room: either a male victim whose screen name was Jake Harmen or a female victim whose screen name was Suzy Harmen. The purpose of the experiment was to determine whether or not the gender of the victim mattered, if the size of each chat group had any effect and if asking for a person's help by directly using their screen name would have any effect.

Results indicated that the gender of the victim had no effect on whether or not a bystander assisted the victim. Consistent with findings of Latané and Darley, the number of people present in the chat room did have an effect. The response time for smaller chat groups was quicker than in the larger chat groups. However, this effect was nonexistent when the victim (Suzy or Jake) asked for help from a specific person in the chat group. The mean response time for groups in which a specific person was called out was 36.38 seconds. The mean response time for groups in which no screen name was pointed out was 51.53 seconds. A significant finding of the research is that intervention depends on whether or not a victim asked for help by specifying a screen name. The group size effect was inhibited when the victim specifically asked a specific person for help. The group size effect was not inhibited if the victim did not ask a specific person for help.