Eyewitness Information and Identification

Question 1

Three types of memory

Answer 1

Sensory memory - short-term memory - longterm memory

Question 2

Sensory memory

Answer 2

Refers to the very short duration for which sense-based information is held post-exposure

Question 3

Short-term memory

Answer 3

Refers to the limited amount of information 7 + or - 2 items usually which can be stored without rehearsal for a short duration (approx 30 seconds)

Question 4

Long term-memory

Answer 4

Refers to the almost unlimited amount of information which can be stored over a life-time with rehearsal

Question 5

Why is the reliability of the information given important (3)

Answer 5

• assisting police to identify a suspect - assisting police to confirm the indentity of an alleged offender - providing testimony at trials

Question 6

How is reliability generally assessed?

Answer 6

Generally assessed according to the memory model (esp. long-term memory)

Question 7

The relationship between confidence and reliability

Answer 7

there is no relationship

Question 8

Recognition

Answer 8

Is the ability to elicit stored material through the use of a cue

Question 9

Recall

Answer 9

Is the ability to elicit stored material without externally providing any type of cue

Question 10

What are two categories that factors related to the input aspect of eyewitness reliability

Answer 10

Witness and Situation

Question 11

What are the witness-based factors? (5)

Answer 11

-Age -Gender - Race - Intelligence - Personality -

Question 12

What are the situational factors? (5)

Answer 12

-Stress/arousal - Event duration - Weapons effect - Frequency of victimisation - Illumination

Question 13

Age based differences

Answer 13

• free recall differences (younger and elderly are less able to free recall) - Line-up identification differences (young children less reliable than adults) - difference in suggestibility (the younger you or elderly the more suggestible you are)

Question 14

Gender based differences

Answer 14

• Slight recall difference based on stereotyped activities (remember based on stereotypical male/female activity - the activity that matches the witnesses own)

Question 15

Race based diff.

Answer 15

Cross race recognition differences

Question 16

Intelligence based diff.

Answer 16

No difference (within reason unless below ~70)

Question 17

Personality based diff.

Answer 17

• Recall and recognition difference for high self-monitors

Question 18

Stress/arousal based diff.

Answer 18

• Recognition and recall impact based on yerkes-dodson

Question 19

Event duration based diff.

Answer 19

-Recall diff at approx 30 seconds, get better after 30 seconds

Question 20

Weapons Effect

Answer 20

-Recall or recognition differences

Question 21

Frequency

Answer 21

Recognition differences

Question 22

Issues with storage of information

Answer 22

• Passage of time - Rehearsal - Meaning - Post-event information

Question 23

Passage of time based diff.

Answer 23

Recall and recog differences - the sooner after the event the better

Question 24

Rehearsal

Answer 24

Recall and recognition differences (for both under and over rehearsal)

Question 25

Meaning/Simulation heuristic

Answer 25

If something means more to you, you’re more likely to remember

Question 26

Post-event information

Answer 26

• The issue of ‘planted memories’

Question 27

Issues assoc. with output of information

Answer 27

Type of questioning- Confidence - Use of Interview Protocol - False Memories

Question 28

Type of questioning

Answer 28

Free recall vs prompting questions - need victims to remember things without prompting them (and possibly planting memories)

Question 29

Confidence

Answer 29

No difference in confidence levels

Question 30

Use of interview protocol

Answer 30

Less bias with interview protocols

Question 31

False memories

Answer 31

Linked to Freudian Theory of Repressed Memories & Suggestibility

Question 32

Identification Procedures in the old days:

Answer 32

Show-ups (show someone the alleged offender in handcuffs)

Question 33

Live-Line up

Answer 33

Need the line-up to be equitable - hard to do

Question 34

Photo-line up

Answer 34

“circle the person you recognise”

Question 35

The photo line-up construction process

Answer 35

• 1 target, 5 foils
• Foils should match target as much as possible (hard to do if target has changed)
• Target should be in a random position
• Should tell them that the target may not be in the line-up
• Sequential vs simultaneous (psychs argue there is a huge difference between them)