factors affecting eyewitness testimony

Question 1

Loftus + Palmer

Answer 1

showed film of car crash. Asked leading question which critical word was changed about how fast car was going. Change in word affected estimate accuracy. Support for leading questions affecting EWT.

Question 2

Loftus + Zanni

Answer 2

car crash video. One group asked did they see the broken headlight. Other asked did they see a broken headlight. (was no headlight visible). Leading questions led to poorer accuracy. Support for leading questions.

Question 3

Christianson + Hubinette

Answer 3

real eyewitnesses to bank robberies. Accurate recall after 15 months even when asked leading questions. Counter for leading questions.

Question 4

Gabbert et al

Answer 4

post event discussions. Participant watched crime from different POVs. Some could see elements others could not. Discussed and then interviewed separately. Many reported seeing things they only heard in the discussion. Support for post event discussion.

Question 5

Loftus

Answer 5

weapons focus creates anxiety which reduces accuracy of EWT.

Question 6

Johnson + Scott

Answer 6

participants in waiting room. One group heard discussion and saw someone leave with pen. Other group heard shouting + someone leaving with bloody knife. Shown photos asking to identify individual. First group more accurate as no weapons anxiety. Support for weapons anxiety.

Question 7

Peters

Answer 7

participants met nurse + researcher. Nurse gave injection. Better at identifying researcher as anxiety over injection. Support for anxiety reducing EWT.

Question 8

Yullie + Cutshall

Answer 8

robber stole guns. Eyewitnesses who reported most stress recalled more accurately. Counter for anxiety.

Question 9

Loftus + Pickrell

Answer 9

shock not anxiety that leads to inaccurate recall. Other explanations for anxiety.