Loftus And Palmer

Question 1

What is the aim of Loftus and palmers study

Answer 1

To investigate whether leading questions given after witnessing an event influences behaviour

Question 2

Participants of Loftus and palmers study?

Answer 2

45 American students
Uni of Washington

Question 3

Loftus and palmer Experiment 1 procedure

Answer 3

All ps watched 7 traffic incident clips
Completed questionnaire to describe incident
Critical question for each condition: “about how fast were the cars going when they ……. Into eachother?” (Smashed, collided, bumped, hit, contacted)
responded in mph

Question 4

The smashed condition resulted in how many miles per hour (Loftus + palmer)

Answer 4

40.8mph

Question 5

The contacted condition resulted in how many miles per hour (Loftus + palmer)

Answer 5

31.8mph

Question 6

Conclusion of Loftus and palmer experiment 1

Answer 6

There was a significant difference found, the verb used changed memories

Memory is affected by leading questions

Question 7

Participants in Loftus and palmer experiment 2

Answer 7

150 American students
Uni of Washington

Question 8

Aim of Loftus and palmer (experiment 2)

Answer 8

To investigate whether memory of accidents can be distorted by the verbs

Question 9

Procedure of Loftus and palmer experiment 2

Answer 9

Ps watched 1 minute video of 4 second car crash clips
Same critical question “about how fast were the cars going when they ….. into eachother” now only 3 conditions (smashed, hit or no critical question)
Ps went home for 1 week, returned and asked if they remember seeing broken glass

Question 10

Results of Loftus and palmer experiment 2

Answer 10

16 ps in “smashed” condition saw broken glass compared to 7 in “hit” and 6 in control

Question 11

Conclusion of Loftus and palmer experiment 2

Answer 11

Leading questions after an event can reconstruct a persons memory

Question 12

L+P method and design?

Answer 12

Lab and independent

Question 13

Strength of L+P

Answer 13

Controlled - lab study which reduces confounding variables, e.g same video rather than actual event which can’t be exactly recreated / seen from the same point of view
Useful - can help with eye-witness statements as police know to avoid leading questions

Question 14

Weakness of L+P

Answer 14

Very low ecological validity - rarely will a person have to watch a video of a car and estimate speed. More like Loser and Palmer 😕