2. MEMORY (Factors affecting the accuracy of eyewitness testimony: misleading information, including leading questions and post-event discussion) Flashcards
What is Eyewitness Testimony (EWT)?
Eyewitness Testimony (EWT) is the ability of people to recall details of events they have personally observed, such as accidents and crimes. Its accuracy can be influenced by factors like misleading information, leading questions, anxiety, and post-event discussion.
Why is research into Eyewitness Testimony (EWT) so important?
Research is crucial because incorrect EWT can lead to wrongful convictions, including imprisonment or even the death penalty. In 75% of cases where DNA evidence exonerated wrongfully convicted individuals, incorrect EWT was the main cause.
What is misleading information in the context of EWT?
Misleading information refers to incorrect details introduced after the event, often through leading questions or post-event discussion. This can distort the accuracy of eyewitness recall.
What is a leading question?
A leading question suggests a specific answer due to its phrasing, influencing the witness’s response. For example: “How fast were the cars going when they smashed into each other?” suggests a higher speed than “How fast were the cars going when they hit each other?”
What was the aim of Loftus and Palmer’s (1974) study on leading questions?
The aim was to investigate whether the wording of a question (misleading information) could distort the accuracy of eyewitnesses’ immediate recall of a traffic accident.
What was the conclusion of Loftus and Palmer’s (1974) study on leading questions?
The conclusion was that the wording of the question, such as using words like “smashed,” can distort the witness’s memory, leading to inaccurate recall (e.g., overestimating speed).
What is a strength of Loftus and Palmer’s study on misleading information?
A strength is that the study was a lab experiment with high control over extraneous variables, allowing researchers to confidently establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the verb used and estimates of speed.
What is a limitation of Loftus and Palmer’s study on misleading information?
A limitation is the low ecological validity, as participants watched a video of an accident rather than witnessing a real event, which may not reflect how they would respond in a real-life situation.
What is Post-Event Discussion (PED)?
Post-Event Discussion occurs when multiple witnesses talk about an event they have all seen, which can influence the accuracy of each person’s recall, leading to the introduction of incorrect information.
What did Gabbert et al. (2003) find in their study on Post-Event Discussion?
Gabbert et al. found that 71% of participants who discussed the event with others reported information they had not actually witnessed, showing that post-event discussion can significantly distort eyewitness recall.
What is the concept of “memory conformity” as found by Gabbert et al. (2003)?
Memory conformity refers to the phenomenon where witnesses go along with the details provided by others, either due to social pressure or believing the other witnesses are correct.
What is a strength of Gabbert et al.’s study on Post-Event Discussion?
A strength is that the study had high control over extraneous variables, allowing researchers to confidently link the effect of PED on recall accuracy and establish cause-and-effect relationships.
What is a limitation of Gabbert et al.’s study on Post-Event Discussion?
A limitation is the low ecological validity, as participants watched a video of a crime rather than witnessing a real-life event, which may not reflect how they would respond in a real-life situation.
How can research on misleading information and post-event discussion be applied in real life?
The research has practical applications in the criminal justice system, such as advising police to avoid leading questions during interviews and preventing witnesses from discussing events with each other to preserve the accuracy of EWT.
What is one key difference between Loftus and Palmer’s and Gabbert et al.’s studies?
Loftus and Palmer focused on leading questions and their effect on recall, while Gabbert et al. investigated how post-event discussion between witnesses could distort memory.
