Factors affecting EWT: Misleading info

Question 1

What are 2 ways that eye witness testimony can become unreliable in terms of misleading information?

Answer 1

• Leading questions

- P.E.Ds

Question 2

What is the study done on leading questions?

Answer 2

A study done by Loftus and Palmer, which found that leading questions created bias. Groups of participants were made to watch a film of a car crash and answer how fast the cars where when they collided in the critical (leading) question. Different verbs were given and it was found as a mean when contacted was used the speed was around 31.8mph and when smashed was used it was 40.5 mph.

Question 3

Why do leading questions affect EWT?

Answer 3

Either because of:

1) the response bias explanation - when the use of a leading verb means that you alternate your answer accordingly.
2) the substitution explanation - when the use of a leading verb actually changes your memory of the event. ie) when using smashed many recalled broken glass.

Question 4

What was the study done on post even discussions and what were the findings?

Answer 4

Study done by Fiona Gabbert et al where participants watched the same crime filmed from a different angle and then were able to discuss it with one another.

It was found that 71% of the participants inaccurately recalled info they had picked up from another participant.

Question 5

What is the evaluation of misleading info as a factor that effects EWT?

Answer 5

Artificial tasks- Loftus and Palmer study on leading questions using clips of a car accident lack the emotions and stress involved in a real one, so its an artificial task, and it has been known that emotions are related to memory and recall.

Individual differences- younger people are often used and its found that they have better recall than older people, as seen by anastasia and rhodes who found that 18-25 y/o were more accurate than 55-78 year olds, excluding own age bias.

Demand characteristics- involved in lab studies according to Zargosa and McCloskey.