Criminological: Factors Influencing EWT

Question 1

What is an Eye-Witness testimony?

Answer 1

When a witness describes what they saw when a crime was committed. Their account may be used in court so must be accurate.

Question 2

What three factors may affect the reliability of an EWT?

Answer 2

1) Stress and arousal
2) Post-event Information
3) Weapon focus

Question 3

Describe stress and arousal as a factor affecting reliability of EWT.

Answer 3

Witnesses are placed under stress when witnessing an event.
Levels of stress could affect the eye-witnesses testimony reliability and accuracy.

Question 4

What is the supporting evidence of Anxiety and arousal affecting the reliability of EWT?

Answer 4

Valentine and Mesout
When ppts were scared in the London Dungeons they showed high anxiety which reduced the accuracy of their identification.
= Emotional state of witness affects memory accuracy.

Question 5

What is the application of stress as a factor influencing EWT Reliability?

Answer 5

When gathering EWT accounts police should also measure their stress levels.

Question 6

Describe post-event information as a factor affecting reliability of EWT.

Answer 6

After an event witnesses might be exposed to information that can change the accuracy of their recall (media).
Leading questions from the police can trigger schemas.

Question 7

What is the supporting evidence of post-event information affecting reliability?

Answer 7

Loftus and Palmer
‘Smashed’= 40.5mph
‘Hit’=34mph
Recall accuracy of ppts changed based on the verb in the critical question.
= Post-Event info affects reliability.

Question 8

What is the application of post-event info affecting reliability?

Answer 8

When gathering EWTs police should avoid asking leading questions and use methods such as the cognitive interview.

Question 9

Describe weapon focus as a factor affecting the reliability of EWT.

Answer 9

If there is a weapon present then witnesses will focus primarily on that and not pay attention of other valuable parts of the crime.

Question 10

What is the supporting evidence for weapon focus affecting EWT reliability?

Answer 10

Loftus:
67% of ppts who witnessed a staged crime with a knife were unable to identify the offender.
=weapons focus reduces our ability to remember details of the offender due to attentional narrowing.

Question 11

What is the application of weapon focus into improving the reliability of EWTs?

Answer 11

If there is a weapon present the witness will become focused so police should take this into account when interviewing.