Contemporary Study (Valentine & Mesout (2009) )

Question 1

Valentine & Mesout (2009)

APFC

Answer 1

A - To see whether there is a correlation with anxiety levels and eye witness identification

P - 56 ppts. entered the London Dungeon where a ‘scary person’ jumps out at the visitor in a 7 minute window in the ‘labyrinth’. Then spend 45 mins walking around a fixed order of the other exhibits. Debriefed and asked a questionnaire at the end.

Asked to - rate how anxious they felt (SAI), describe the ‘scary person’, pick out the ‘scary person’ from 9 photos

F - The lower the score on the SAI, higher the number of descriptors recalled

Volunteers who rated a low state of anxiety made more correct IDs of ‘scary person’ (21) than those who were anxious (5)

C - Anxiety does effect the reliability of EWT

Question 2

Valentine & Mesout (2009)

GRAVE

Answer 2

G - Possibly an unusually sample. Those attending the London Dungeons may have a preference from scary activities, influencing the anxiety they felt.

R - Time spend overall in the LD was carefully standardised so could be repeated

A - EWT should be treated with caution, especially if in stress at the time.

V - SAI questionnare is valid as pre-test on its validity found that questionnare rating of anxiety corresponded with the heart beat of ppts. Strong ecological validity, didn’t know they were part of a study at the time

E - Ppts. chose to freely involve themselves in the LD Experience without coercion, and were offered right to withdraw from study after the ‘scare’.

Weakness = Christianson & Hubinette (1993) interviewed 110 witnesses of 22 bank robberies, found those directly involved (high anxiety) had more accurate recall than onlookers, suggesting anxiety can actually increase recall