Accuracy Of Eyewitness Testimony Misleading Info. Flashcards
What is misleading information?
Supplying information that may alter a memory
Misleading information can significantly impact the accuracy of eyewitness testimony.
Define leading questions.
Questions that will influence participants to give a desired answer
Leading questions can distort an individual’s memory and perception of events.
What was the aim of Loftus & Palmer’s (1974) experiment?
To show that leading questions could distort eyewitness testimony
The study focused on how wording changes could affect memory reconstruction.
What was the independent variable in Loftus & Palmer’s experiment?
The wording of the question asked
Different terms like ‘smashed’, ‘collided’, ‘bumped’, and ‘contacted’ were used.
What was the dependent variable in Loftus & Palmer’s experiment?
The speed reported by the participants
Participants’ estimates of speed varied based on the leading questions they received.
What was the sample size in Loftus & Palmer’s experiment?
Forty-five American students from the University of Washington
The study used an opportunity sample.
What were participants shown in Loftus & Palmer’s experiment?
Films of traffic accidents ranging from 5 to 30 seconds
This visual stimulus was essential for testing their memory recall.
What was the mean speed reported when participants were asked ‘smashed’?
40.8 mph
This was the highest speed estimate among the different wording conditions.
What were the conditions of the independent measures experimental design?
Each participant experienced only one condition
This design helps to reduce bias and ensures that the results are due to the manipulation of the independent variable.
What was the result when participants were asked if they saw broken glass?
16 saw broken glass, 34 did not
This discrepancy highlights the impact of leading questions on memory recall.
Fill in the blank: The DV in Loftus & Palmer’s study was the _______.
speed reported by the participants
This dependent variable was critical for assessing the effects of misleading questions.
True or False: The wording of questions can significantly influence eyewitness testimony.
True
Loftus & Palmer’s research provides evidence supporting this claim.
What was the purpose of asking participants about their speed estimation one week later?
To measure memory retention and the effects of leading questions over time
This follow-up helped assess the long-term impact of misleading information.
What is post event discussion?
A misleading conversation after an incident and for being questioned
Post event discussions can lead to inaccuracies in eyewitness testimony.
What are false memories?
Recollection of an event or detail that didn’t happen, or that happened differently than recalled
False memories can significantly impact the reliability of eyewitness accounts.
What is the conformity effect?
Eyewitnesses recall changes only because they go along with the accounts of co-witnesses
This can occur to win social approval or due to genuinely believing co-witnesses.
What is source monitoring?
Distortion of memories occurs when alternative accounts are heard, creating confusion
Eyewitnesses can recall accurate and inaccurate information but cannot recall its source, known as source confusion.
Who conducted research on post-event discussion and eyewitness testimony?
Gabbert et al. (2003)
This study investigated the effect of post-event discussion on the accuracy of eyewitness testimony.
What was the sample size in Gabbert et al.’s study?
60 students and 60 older adults
Participants were from the University of Aberdeen and a local community.
What did participants in the co-witness group do?
Discussed the crime together after watching a video
They believed they had seen the same video despite actually witnessing different perspectives.
What percentage of witnesses in the co-witness group recalled information they had not actually seen?
71%
This highlights the influence of post-event discussion on memory accuracy.
What percentage of participants said the girl was guilty despite not seeing her commit a crime?
60%
This illustrates how misleading information can affect eyewitness testimony.
True or False: Memory contamination can lead to eyewitnesses recalling accurate information.
False
Memory contamination often leads to inaccuracies in eyewitness accounts.
Fill in the blank: The phenomenon where eyewitnesses recall changes due to social influence is called _______.
conformity effect
This effect can compromise the reliability of witness testimonies.
