factors affecting the accuracy of eyewitness testimony: Misleading information

Question 1

How does research into misleading information have real world application

Answer 1

Practical uses into CJS
-Loftus (1975) police need to be careful about phrasing of Q’s.
- psychologists now tell juries the limits of EWT
-Improves legal system, prevents innocents going to jail

Question 2

How can the real world application of misleading information be countered?

Answer 2

Issues with research may affect practical uses.
-loftus and Palmers experiment occurred in a lab, less stressful than a real event
Foster et al. as environment artificial, may be less accurate as answers unimportant

Question 3

What is a limitation of the substitution explanation?

Answer 3

-conflicting evidence
-Sutherland and Hayne(2001)
-pps saw video clip, asked misleading questions but still recalled central details of event
-memories of central evenst still intact
-not what explanation suggests

Question 4

What is a limitation of the memory conformity explanation?

Answer 4

Evidence that post event discussion actually alters EWT, it is not just conformity
-Skakerberg and Wright, 2 versions of clips shown to pps (brown hair mugger/light brown) pps discussed
-Reported a mugger with a blend of both characteristics
-Supports contamination not conformity