Factors Influencing EWT: Reliability

Question 1

Define EWT

Answer 1

An account of an event or crime that was seen by an observer first hand.

Question 2

Define Post Event Info

Answer 2

Any info supplied to an eye witness after the event that may affect their recall. A persons ability to recall events may be based on schema than what actually occurred.

Question 3

Define Weapons Focus

Answer 3

When a witness’ attention is drawn to the weapon a perpetrator is holding, causes worse recall of other details.

Question 4

Leading Questions

Answer 4

Questions that lead a person to a specific answer.
The way in which questions are asked can trigger schemas and is a form of PEI.

Question 5

Influence of anxiety

Answer 5

Experiencing a traumatic event can effect recall because of the high anxiety.

A review of 21 studies showed that moderate levels of anxiety help memory; if too extreme, memory decreases.

Question 6

Strength of Leading Questions

Answer 6

L+P Involved leading questions.
PP shown car crashes and estimate speed.
PP who heard ‘smashed’ rather than ‘hit’ said higher speeds.

PEI influences recall

Question 7

Weakness of LQ and WF

Answer 7

Evidence from real crimes does not support.
13 witnesses interviewed by police after a shooting.
4-5 months later again and produced accurate accounts despite deliberate leading questions and high anxiety.

Suggests effects may be less in real life applications.

Question 8

Strength of WF

Answer 8

An investigation testing weapons focus showed that after an event in a lab setting when asked to recall events; the group with the weapon had lower recall.

Question 9

Application

Answer 9

Court cases.
EWT led to introduction of social framework evidence in legal cases. In US courts, psychologists may be called upon to provide context.