Eye witness testimony Flashcards
What is eye witness testimony?
The recollection of an event by a witness, usually a significant period of time afterwards.
What are the 3 factors that affect the accuracy of eye witness testimony?
- Misleading information including leading questions
- Misleading information including post event discussion
- Anxiety
How does anxiety affect the accuracy of eye witness testimony?
- Witnesses may be in a state of high arousal (stressed/ anxious), particularly if there is threat/ danger (more violent crimes or if the witness is the victim).
- Some witnesses may have a naturally more anxious personality
What did the Johnson and Scott study show about the effect of anxiety on eye witness testimony?
- Condition 1- participants overheard a discussion in a lab about equipment failure, someone then emerged from the lab holding a pen in grease covered hands
- Condition 2- Participants overheard a heated and hostile debate in the lab. After the sound of breaking glass and crashing chairs, a man came out the lab holding a paper knife covered in blood
- Participants were then asked to recall the person from 50 photos
- 49% correctly recalled the man when he was holding a pen
- 33% correctly recalled the man when he was holding a paper knife
What was the Loftus and Burns study on the effect of anxiety on eye witness testimony?
- Showed 1 group of participants a film of a crime with no violence
- Another group were shown the same film but with a violent incident
- Those who saw the violent incident recalled significantly less than those who saw the film without violence, suggesting the anxiety caused by violence negatively affected the recall.
If the point is:
A strength of research into the effects of anxiety on the accuracy of eye witness testimony is that studies are often well controlled and have high internal validity.
What is the evidence and link?
Evidence- Lab experiments like Loftus and Burns on violence/anxiety are well controlled, which means we can make statements about cause and effect. In this case, what was responsible for changes in recall of the robbery was the level of violence, which was the independent variable.
Link- This means the studies can be replicated to allow the results to be checked for accuracy.
If the point is:
A strength of the research into the effects of anxiety on the accuracy of eye witness testimony is that the high level of control increases the reliability of the research.
What is the evidence and link?
Evidence- As the research studies use experimentation, this means they should employ standardised procedures that will allow research to be replicated to check reliability. For example, in the Loftus and Burns study, there were 2 experimental conditions; in 1 of these conditions there was no violent shooting and in the other a boy was shot in the face.
Link- This means the study can be replicated with ease to check the findings are consistent.
If the point is:
A weakness of the research into the effect of anxiety on the accuracy of eye witness testimony is that the reliance on lab experiments means research is often low in ecological validity, because this isn’t the same as witnessing real life crimes.
What is the evidence and link?
Evidence- For example, in an experiment, the crime is usually viewed on a screen. This means that participants will probably be paying more attention than they would if it happened in real life, as they’re expecting something to happen. Also, it’s far less stressful and anxiety provoking than being subjected to the real thing.
Link- This implies that the results of these experiments may not be as reliable, as they didn’t take place in real life scenarios, meaning reactions will be different than if they were the real thing.
If the point is:
A weakness of research into the effects of anxiety on the accuracy of eye witness testimony is that the research findings are inconsistent. Research into recall from real incidents involving high levels of stress indicate that memory can be accurate, detailed and long lasting.
What is the evidence and link?
Evidence- For example, Christianson and Hubinette carried out a survey among 110 people who had witnessed between them 22 genuine bank robberies. Some of these people had been bystanders while others had been directly threatened by the robbers. The victims who were subjected to the greatest stress and anxiety showed more detailed and accurate recall then the onlookers.
Link- This directly contradicts what experimental research has found and suggests that it depends on the victims and their relation to the crime and their anxiety levels to see the effects of anxiety on the accuracy of eye witness testimony.
What are the evaluations for the research on the effects of anxiety on eye witness testimony?
+ Often well controlled and have high internal validity
+ High level of control increases the reliability of the research
— The reliance on lab experiments means research is often low in ecological validity, because this isn’t the same as witnessing real life crimes
— Research findings are inconsistent. Research into recall from real incidents involving high levels of stress indicate that memory can be accurate, detailed and long lasting.
