Loftus and Palmer Flashcards
What was the aim of the Loftus and Palmer study (experiment 1)?
To investigate the accuracy of memory
What was the aim of the first experiment?
To see if estimates given by participants were influenced by the wording of the leading question
How many participants were used in the first experiment?
45
What materials were used in the experiment?
Seven film clips of traffic accidents from safety or driver education films
How long did each film clip last?
5 - 30 seconds
What were participants asked to do after watching the film clips?
They were asked to write an account of what they saw and answer some specific questions
What were the verbs used in the leading question?
Smashed
Collided
Bumped
Hit
Contacted
Mean speed estimate for smashed?
40.8
Mean speed estimate for Collided?
39.3
Mean speed estimate for Bumped?
38.1
Mean speed estimate for hit?
34
Mean speed estimate for contacted?
31.8
What were the two interpretations/explanations of the results?
Response bias: participants gave the answer they thought the researcher wanted
Memory is altered
Why was the second experiment carried out?
To determine which of the conclusions from experiment 1 was correct
What was the aim of the second experiment?
To investigate whether leading questions actually bias a persons response or actually alters memory
How many participants were in the second experiment?
150
What were the three groups and what were they asked? (Experiment 2)
50 - How fast were the cars going when they hit eachother?
50 - How fast were the cars going when they smashed into eachother?
50 were not asked about the speed of the veichles (control group)
What was the critical question all participants were asked?
Did you see any broken glass?
(there was no broken glass in the film)
How many in the smashed condition said they saw broken glass?
16
How many in the hit condition said they saw broken glass?
7
How many in the control group said they saw broken glass?
6
Which conclusion was found to be correct?
Leading questions alter a persons memory of an event
What are the two kinds of information they argued entered a persons memory of a complex event?
Information obtained from perceiving the event
Information supplied to us after an event
What was the research method used in the study?
Lab experiment
