Eyewitness testimony

Question 1

eyewitness testimony

Answer 1

the ability of people to remember the details of events, such as accidents and crimes, which they have observed.

Question 2

leading questions

Answer 2

a question which suggests a certain answer due to the way it is phrased

Question 3

misleading information

Answer 3

incorrect information given to the eyewitness usually after the event. this can take many forms including leading questions and post event discussion with other witnesses

Question 4

post-event discussion (PED)

Answer 4

occurs when there is more than one witness to an event. witnesses may discuss what they have seen with others. this may influence the accuracy of their recall after the event

Question 5

anxiety

Answer 5

a state of emotional or physiological arousal. a normal reaction to stressful events, but can affect the accuracy and detail of EWT.

Question 6

Leading questions research

Answer 6

Lift us and Palmer (1974)
presented a video of car crash and used different critical verbs to ask how fast the cars were travelling. smashed’ gave fasted speed estimates. then after a week, asked if there was broken glass .

Question 7

Cognitive interview

Answer 7

a questioning technique used by the police to enhance retrieval of information about a crime scene from the eye witnesses and victims memory

Question 8

stages of cognitive interview

Answer 8

• context reinstatement
  -report everything
• reverse the order
• change perspective

Question 9

the enhanced cognitive interview

Answer 9

Fisher et al (1987) additional elements focusing on the social dynamics eg. when to avoid eye contact, asking the witness to speak slowly. reduces ancient and minimises distractions