Loftus and Loftus 1987 - Interviewing witnesses - weapon focus

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To provide support for the weapon focus effect which affects witnesses during crimes where a weapon is present.

Question 2

Method

Answer 2

Lab study

Question 3

Participants

Answer 3

36 students washington Uni aged 18-31

Question 4

Procedure

Answer 4

2 sets of 35mm slides each contained 18 slides - both showed a scene of a taco time restaurant.

in the control condition person b hands cashier a cheque
in experimental condition person b pulls out a gun.

apart from this slides are identical, each slide shown for 1.5 secs. participants were told the study aimed to investigate proactive interference.

then given 20Q multiple choice, then a line up of 12 suspects and asked to identify person b. they then rated how confident they were about their choice.

the experiment was later repeated with 80 students.

Question 5

Results

Answer 5

control condition - 38.9% identified correct person
experimental condition - 11.1% identified correct person

no difference in self report or confidence.
eyes looked at gun longer than cheque

Question 6

Conclusions

Answer 6

weapon focus would be a larger factor in reality as the witness will be more aroused, therefore is more likely to have increased attentional narrowing.