Sir – First of all, we would like to thank you for your forbearance and understanding of our recent study of the existence of Good Samaritans in Oxford.

During the past week, the psychology class at the Oxford Prep Experience has been undergoing an experiment — with the Oxonians as unsuspecting subjects.

Members of the class have feigned black-outs and collapsed in a wide range of areas in downtown and central Oxford in order to collect data on helping behavior of the general public. Observations were then discreetly made and analysed after the experiment.

Here, we would like to reveal the results of the study to those who may be interested. Initially we were all quite sceptical of what the results would be. Fortunately, our results proved us wrong. In general, the Oxford public helped most of the students immediately. In nine out of ten occasions, help came within a minute of the student’s collapse. In one scenario an elderly lady missed her bus to help one of our fainters across the street.

Special thanks also go to the man who bought a sandwich for another one of our fellow fainters and refused to leave until they had finished it.

In the light of this experiment, we feel that it is safe to say that the Good Samaritan effect is indeed alive and well.

If you were one of those ‘Good Oxonians’ who aided our fainters, please email: michelle.x.fang@gmail.com to collect a certificate of gratitude.

The Psychology Group, The Oxford Prep Experience