EWT: Misleading information

Question 1

Explain the Loftus and Palmer study into leading questions.

Answer 1

• 45 participants watched staged car accident.
• Asked qu’s about the accident (leading question).
• “About how fast were the cars going when they ___ each other?” Hit, collided, bumped, contacted, smashed.
• More violent the word used, the faster they estimated the car to be travelling.

Question 2

How does response-bias affect eye witness testimony?

Answer 2

Wording has no effect on the memory, but influences how they choose to answer.

Question 3

How does substitution affect eye witness testimony?

Answer 3

Wording alters the memory of an incident.

Question 4

What is post-event discussion?

Answer 4

When the witnesses discuss their memories and experiences with each other.

Question 5

Explain Gabbert’s study into post-event disussion.

Answer 5

• Pairs of participants watched videos of a crime.
• Each saw same event from different perspective.
• They then discussed what they saw together.
• 71% of participants incorrectly recalled details they hadn’t seen.

Question 6

How does memory contamination affect EWT?

Answer 6

The memory of an event is distorted by details from others witnesses when these are combined with the original memory.

Question 7

How does memory conformity affect EWT?

Answer 7

Witnesses go along with others for social acceptance or because they think others are more correct. The reporting of the memory is affected.

Question 8

How does source monitoring affect EWT?

Answer 8

Witnesses can recall information, but not where it came from. The memory is distorted as the source information is lost.

Question 9

What is a strength of the research into leading questions? - Real world application

Answer 9

• Important implications for legal system: Police need to be careful how they phrase interview questions to avoid distorting memory.
• Psychologists sometimes asked to explain in court, the limits of EWT.
• Psychologists can improve the way the legal system works to protect innocent people.

Question 10

What is a limitation? - May be limited by issues with research

Answer 10

• Loftus and Palmer used film clips in a lab, different to witnessing a real crime.
• Foster et al: EWT has consequences in rea life.
• Research participants had less motivation to be accurate.

Question 11

What is a limitation of post event discussion? - It alters EWT -

Answer 11

• Sutherland and Haye showed participants 2 different versions of a video clip, then allowed discussion.
• Participants reported a blend of what they had seen and what they’re co-witness had seen.
• Memory conformity would predict participants report what their co-witnesses saw – this study suggests the memory itself is contaminated.