Factors affecting the accuracy of EWT - Anxiety

Question 1

What are the two explanations of factors affecting the accuracy of EWT?

Answer 1

Misleading info and anxiety

Question 2

What is meant by anxiety and how does this affect EWT?

Answer 2

• anxiety is a strong emotional and physical state
• affects EWT as extreme anx has been found to neg affect EWT as witnesses only focus on certain aspects of the event so recall is limited

Question 3

Who did research into anxiety as a factor affecting the accuracy of EWT and what was their aim and method?

Answer 3

Johnson and Scott investigated the effects of anx on the accuracy of EWT using a lab experiment

Question 4

What was Johnson and Scotts procedure into anxiety as a factor affecting the accuracy of EWT?

Answer 4

• all ppts were told to wait outside room before exp began
• ppts were places either in a high anx condition or a low anx condition
• high anx condition = weapon focus, ppts heard an argument, sound of glass breaking then man walked out room carrying knife covered w blood
• low anx condition = ppts heard argument then man walked out room with grease and pen in hands
• ppts then had to identify person who left room from 50 photographs

Question 5

What was Johnson and Scotts findings and conclusions into anxiety as a factor affecting the accuracy of EWT?

Answer 5

• ppts in low anx condition correctly identified man leaving room more times (50%) compared to high anx condition (30%)
• they concluded anx caused weapon focus as the witness concentrates on the weapon, not person due to fear, therefore reducing acc of recall

Question 6

What are the three AO3 PEELS to evaluate anxiety as a factor affecting accuracy of EWT?

Answer 6

RTC Johnson and Scotts research by Christianson and Hubinette
Discussion - extraneous variables
Yerkes Dodson Law - resolves contradiction