2.5: Misleading information

Question 1

Several factors have been identified as affecting the accuracy of eyewitness testimony (EWT).
Example

Answer 1

For example, misleading information

Question 2

Several factors have been identified as affecting the accuracy of eyewitness testimony (EWT).
For example, misleading information, in the form of what?

Answer 2

For example, misleading information, in the form of:

1. Leading questions
2. Post-event discussion

Question 3

Misleading information

Answer 3

Misleading information is information that suggests a desired response

Question 4

Post-event discussion

Answer 4

Post-event discussion is misleading information being added to a memory after the event has occurred

Question 5

Leading questions

Answer 5

Leading questions are questions:

1. Phrased in such a way to prompt a particular kind of answer
2. That increase the likelihood that an individual’s schemas will influence them to give a desired answer

Question 6

A leading question is a question phrased in such a way to prompt a particular kind of answer.
Example

Answer 6

For example:

1. ‘You like Psychology don’t you?’
2. ‘Did you see the gun?’

Question 7

A leading question is a question phrased in such a way to prompt a particular kind of answer.
For example, ‘You like Psychology don’t you?’ and ‘Did you see the gun?’ compared to what?

Answer 7

For example, ‘You like Psychology don’t you?’ and ‘Did you see the gun?’ compared to the general questions of:

1. ‘What are your thoughts on Psychology?’
2. ‘Did you see a gun?’

Question 8

Research regularly shows that EWT is affected by experiences occurring when?

Answer 8

Research regularly shows that EWT is affected by experiences occurring after a witnessed event

Question 9

Research regularly shows that EWT is affected by experiences occurring after a witnessed event.
A key factor is the use of misleading information, particularly in the form of leading questions, and post-event discussion.
Example

Answer 9

For example, most people will have seen TV dramas set in courtrooms where barristers are accused of ‘leading the witness’

Question 10

Research regularly shows that EWT is affected by experiences occurring after a witnessed event.
A key factor is the use of misleading information, particularly in the form of leading questions, and post-event discussion.
For example, most people will have seen TV dramas set in courtrooms where barristers are accused of ‘leading the witness’ by doing what?

Answer 10

For example, most people will have seen TV dramas set in courtrooms where barristers are accused of ‘leading the witness’ by asking questions that suggest a certain answer

Question 11

Research regularly shows that EWT is affected by experiences occurring after a witnessed event.
A key factor is the use of misleading information, particularly in the form of leading questions, and post-event discussion.
For example, most people will have seen TV dramas set in courtrooms where barristers are accused of ‘leading the witness’ by asking questions that suggest a certain answer.
Misleading information has been found to be more able to create memories the more what it is?

Answer 11

Misleading information has been found to be more able to create memories the more:
1. Believable
2. Emotionally arousing
3. Subtle
it is

Question 12

Research regularly shows that EWT is affected by experiences occurring after a witnessed event.
A key factor is the use of misleading information, particularly in the form of leading questions, and post-event discussion.
For example, most people will have seen TV dramas set in courtrooms where barristers are accused of ‘leading the witness’ by asking questions that suggest a certain answer.
Misleading information has been found to be more able to create memories the more believable, emotionally arousing and subtle it is.
Post-event discussion concerns misleading information being added to a memory after the event has occurred, with research indicating that what can be stimulated?

Answer 12

Post-event discussion concerns misleading information being added to a memory after the event has occurred, with research indicating that false memories can be stimulated

Question 13

Research regularly shows that EWT is affected by experiences occurring after a witnessed event.
A key factor is the use of misleading information, particularly in the form of leading questions, and post-event discussion.
For example, most people will have seen TV dramas set in courtrooms where barristers are accused of ‘leading the witness’ by asking questions that suggest a certain answer.
Misleading information has been found to be more able to create memories the more believable, emotionally arousing and subtle it is.
Post-event discussion concerns misleading information being added to a memory after the event has occurred, with research indicating that false memories can be stimulated by what experiences?

Answer 13

Post-event discussion concerns misleading information being added to a memory after the event has occurred, with research indicating that false memories can be stimulated by misleading post-event experiences

Question 14

When witnesses to a crime discuss it with each other (post-event discussion), their eyewitness testimonies may become contaminated.
This is because they do what?

Answer 14

This is because the witnesses combine:
1. (Mis)information from other witnesses
with
2. Their own memories

Question 15

Why do leading questions affect EWT?

Answer 15

The response-bias explanation suggests that the wording of the question has no real effect on the participants’ memories, but just influences how they decide to answer

Question 16

Why do leading questions affect EWT?
The response-bias explanation suggests that the wording of the question has no real effect on the participants’ memories, but just influences how they decide to answer.

Answer 16

When a participant gets a leading question using the word ‘smashed,’ this encourages them to choose a higher speed estimate

Question 17

Why do leading questions affect EWT?
The response-bias explanation suggests that the wording of the question has no real effect on the participants’ memories, but just influences how they decide to answer.
When a participant gets a leading question using the word ‘smashed,’ this encourages them to choose a higher speed estimate.
Loftus and Palmer (1974) conducted a second experiment that supported which explanation?

Answer 17

Loftus and Palmer (1974) conducted a second experiment that supported the substitution explanation

Question 18

Why do leading questions affect EWT?
The response-bias explanation suggests that the wording of the question has no real effect on the participants’ memories, but just influences how they decide to answer.
When a participant gets a leading question using the word ‘smashed,’ this encourages them to choose a higher speed estimate.
Loftus and Palmer (1974) conducted a second experiment that supported the substitution explanation.

Answer 18

The substitution explanation is that the wording of a leading question actually changes the participant’s memory of the film clip

Question 19

Why do leading questions affect EWT?
The response-bias explanation suggests that the wording of the question has no real effect on the participants’ memories, but just influences how they decide to answer.
When a participant gets a leading question using the word ‘smashed,’ this encourages them to choose a higher speed estimate.
Loftus and Palmer (1974) conducted a second experiment that supported the substitution explanation.
The substitution explanation is that the wording of a leading question actually changes the participant’s memory of the film clip.
How was this demonstrated?

Answer 19

This was demonstrated because participants who originally heard ‘smashed’ later were more likely to report seeing broken glass (there was none), than those who heard ‘hit’ - the critical verb altered their memory of the incident