EWT Key Studies Loftus And Palmer (1974) Key Study 2

Question 1

What was the aim of key study 2

Answer 1

To find out the effect of post event information

Question 2

What was the description of key study 2 AO1

Answer 2

150 student Pps
Shown a short film that showed a multi-vehicle car accident
The Pps were asked several questions after the short film
The Pps were split in 3 groups with 50 people in each group
Group 1 were asked :
‘How fast were the cars going when they hit each other ‘
Group 2 were asked:
‘How fast were the cars going when they smashed each other ‘
Group 3 were not asked about the speed of the vehicles !
They were a control group
One week later all Pps returned and amongst a series of questions were asked the critical (post event) question:
‘Did you see any broken glass’
However they were no broken glass in the film of the film that they watched

Question 3

What were the results of key study 2

Answer 3

Response. smashed Hit Control
Yes 16. 7. 6.
No. 34. 43. 44.
Pps that said yes in all 3 conditions despite there being no broken glass in the original clip

Question 4

What does this study show

Answer 4

This study shows that misleading post event information (question) may change the way information is remembered ,therefore change the memory . This impacts the validity of the EWT as it can alters one’s memory of an event