Criminological: Classic Study: Loftus And Palmer

Question 1

What were the aims of Loftus and Palmers study?

Answer 1

To investigate the accuracy of memory of an event.
To test whether EWTs can be altered by language.

Question 2

What was the sample of Loftus and Palmer?

Answer 2

45 American students

Question 3

Describe the procedure of Loftus and Palmers study.

Answer 3

5 groups of 9 all shown 7 clips (5-30s) of a car accident.
Then given a questionnaire asking the critical questions.
How fast were the cars going when they _______ each other?

Question 4

What was the independent variable of Loftus and palmers study?

Answer 4

IV= verb used in critical question.

Question 5

What was the dependent variable in Loftus and palmers study?

Answer 5

DV= Estimate of car speed (mph)

Question 6

What were the results of Loftus and Palmers study?

Answer 6

Smashed= 40.5 mph
Hit= 34 mph

Question 7

What was the conclusion of Loftus and Palmers study?

Answer 7

Language does impact the estimated speed of the ppt. The more powerful the verb was the higher the estimate.

Question 8

Why did Loftus and Palmer conduct a follow up study?

Answer 8

To understand whether the results of the first study were due to bias or distortion.
We’re the memories actually being changed?

Question 9

What is the aim of Loftus and Palmers follow up study?

Answer 9

Investigate whether estimates of car speed were due to bias or distortion.

Question 10

What was the sample of Loftus and Palmers follow up study?

Answer 10

150 American students

Question 11

What was the independent variable of Loftus and Palmers follow up study?

Answer 11

IV= verb of ‘hit’, ‘smashed’ or no question asked.

Question 12

What was the dependent variable of Loftus and Palmers follow up study?

Answer 12

DV= speed estimate and whether ppt saw broken glass. (YES/NO)

Question 13

What was the procedure of Loftus and Palmers follow up study?

Answer 13

3 groups of 50, Shown 1 minute clip of car accident.
Questionnaire asked critical question (one group did not) and one week later asked ‘did you see any broken glass?’

Question 14

What were the results of Loftus and Palmers follow up study?

Answer 14

Smashed= 16 YES 34 NO
Hit= 7 YES 43 NO
Control= 6 YES 44 NO

Question 15

What was the conclusion of Loftus and Palmers follow up study?

Answer 15

Ppts in the smashed condition assumed there would be broken glass because of the verb used. Their memories were distorted.

Question 16

Evaluate the generalisability of Loftus and Palmers study.

Answer 16

• 45 American students = ethnocentric and age-locked
  =cannot be applied to middle-aged people from other cultures.

Question 17

Evaluate the reliability of Loftus and Palmers study.

Answer 17

+ Standardised Procedure
Eg: all ppts shown the same clip and ask same questions apart from verb.
= Easy to replicate and test for consistency.

Question 18

Evaluate the application of Loftus and Palmers study.

Answer 18

+ ‘Smashed’= 40mph ‘Hit’= 34mph
Leading questions can alter memory
=Police should avoid asking leading questions and keep them broad.

Question 19

Evaluate the validity of Loftus and Palmers study.

Answer 19

• Low ecological validity as car accident was stage not real life.
  = Doesn’t represent real-life attention and memory.

Question 20

Evaluate the ethics of Loftus and Palmers study.

Answer 20

+ Staged accidents= less distressing for ppts.
- Elements of deception with leading questions.