Kirsten Tilleman: Upstanders Spotted on Public Transport: Research Suggests 'Bystander Effect' Is A Myth

Despite growing interest, evidence on bystander action in real-world incidents remains limited. This thesis research examines violence on PT, the effects of bystander help, and riders’ preferences for future assistance and anti-violence measures.

Three studies combine for a mixed-methods approach that includes two anonymous online surveys of adult PT riders New Zealand (n=524, n=862) and focus groups with 25 LGBTQI+ PT riders in Auckland. The research applies an overarching systems thinking approach to evaluate the outcomes of statistical and reflexive thematic analyses. Results show that after bystander help actions, current harmful behaviour tends to improve or stop, and witnesses' confidence to provide future help tends to increase.