Accuracy Of Eyewitness Testimony

Question 1

Loftus and palmer 1974 aim

Answer 1

Investigate how leading questions can alter a participants recollection of an event

Question 2

Loftus and palmer 1974 procedure

Answer 2

150 students shown short film showing multi vehicle incidents and asked questions
3 groups
G1)how fast were the cars going when they hit each other
G2)how fast were the cars going when they smashed into each other
G3) asked nothing about the speed
Groups returned week later and asked if they saw any broken glass even though there was no glass

Question 3

Loftus and palmer 1974 findings

Answer 3

Those in smashed group more likely to say they saw glass

Mean ranged from 31.8mph to 40.8mph

Question 4

Loftus and palmer 1974 conclusion

Answer 4

Leading question biased the eyewitness recall of the event

Question 5

Gabbert et al 2003 aim

Answer 5

Investigate how post event discussion can alter participants recollection of an event

Question 6

Gabbert et al 2003 procedure

Answer 6

Studied in pairs
Watched video of same crime but from different points of view
Saw different things the other couldn’t
Discussed in pies what they saw before completing test of recall

Question 7

Gabbert et al 2003 finding

Answer 7

71% mistakenly recalled aspects they hadn’t seen but had picked up in discussion

Question 8

Gabbert et al 2003 conclusion

Answer 8

Witnesses go along with each other

To win social approval or because of memory conformity

Question 9

Eyewitness testimony

Answer 9

Account given by people of an event they’ve witnessed

Question 10

Leading question

Answer 10

Questions that encourage particular desires answer

Question 11

Misleading information

Answer 11

Information that comes either pre or post event that can alter original memory and cause you to confabulate

Question 12

Post event discussion

Answer 12

When other witnesses discuss the details of a crime of accident following incident

Question 13

Ewt relevant to real life?

Answer 13

Evidence so they know where to look in the situation

Question 14

Gabbert et al 2003 strength

Answer 14

Application to real world

More evidence in police cases

Question 15

Gabbert et al 2003 weakness

Answer 15

All students , lack population validity
Ecological validity low
-lab experiment they knew they were being observed and in an experiment

Question 16

Johnson and Scott 1976 aim

Answer 16

Investigate how anxiety can alter participants recollection of event

Question 17

Johnson and Scott 1976 procedure

Answer 17

Sat in waiting room and herd argument near by
Con1) saw man walk out of room with men and grease on his hands LOW ANX
con2) more heated argument and smashing glass man walks out holding knife and blood HIGH ANX
Then asked to identify the man from 50 photos

Question 18

Johnson and Scott 1976 findings

Answer 18

Low anxiety-49%

High anxiety- 33%

Question 19

Johnson and Scott 1976 conclusion

Answer 19

More difficult to identify in high anxiety situation
Focus more on weapon then person
Weapon focus effect

Question 20

How was the ecological validity for this experiment Johnson and Scott 1976

Answer 20

Medium as they made it as real as possible but still were aware they’re being observed

Question 21

Yuille and cutshall 1986 aim

Answer 21

Investigate how anxiety can alter participants recollection of real life event

Question 22

Yuille and cutshall 1986 procedure

Answer 22

13 witness to real life shooting
Interviewed
Some very close and others viewed it further away

Interview 4-5 month after incident
Compared to interview given when it happened
Accuracy determined by amount of detail given
Asked to rate stress level using 7pt scale

Question 23

Yuille and cutshall 1986 findings

Answer 23

Closer the witness, the more the detail
Gave accurate accounts months later
The more distressed witness, more accurate testimony later

Question 24

Yuille and cutshall 1986 conclusion

Answer 24

Increased anxiety in real life setting can improve accuracy of EWT

Question 25

Deffenbacher 1983

Answer 25

Lower levels of anxiety produce lower levels of recall, memory more accurate as level of anxiety increases
Optimal level of anxiety, if participant experiences more stress than this accuracy decreases dramatically

Question 26

Strength of Johnson and Scott

Answer 26

Lab experiment - reduce extraneous variables

Question 27

Weakness of Johnson and Scott

Answer 27

Lacks validity
Pickel did study of weapons that were unusual in the environment
Ethical issues
Lab experiment, paying more attention to things they wouldn’t normally

Question 28

Strength of yuille and cutshall

Answer 28

Real life event relevant

Question 29

Yuille and cutshall weakness

Answer 29

Lacks ecological validity

Severe stress on patients