Loftus and Palmer

Question 1

Methodology of L&P

Answer 1

Experiment in lab environment

Question 2

Experimental design of L&P

Answer 2

Independent groups design

Question 3

IV experiment 1

Answer 3

Verb used in critical Q

Question 4

IV experiment 2

Answer 4

Verb used in critical Q (smashed/hit)

Question 5

DV experiment 1

Answer 5

Estimate of speed

Question 6

DV experiment 2

Answer 6

Whether P stated that they saw broken glass

Question 7

How many P’s in experiment 1?

Answer 7

45 students

Question 8

How many P’s in experiment 2?

Answer 8

150 students

Question 9

In experiment 1 - how many film clips of traffic accidents were the P’s shown?

Answer 9

7

Question 10

In experiment 1, what was the critical Q?

Answer 10

‘About how fast were the cars going when they _________ each other?’

Question 11

What were the 5 verbs used in the critical Q?

Answer 11

Smashed, Hit, Bumped, Collided. Contacted

Question 12

What did P’s watch in experiment 2?

Answer 12

One clip of a multi-vehicle car accident

Question 13

What were each group of 50 P’s in experiment 2 asked?

Answer 13

50 P’s: how fast were the cars going when they smashed into each other?
50 P’s: how fast were the cars going when they hit each other?
50 P’s: control - not asked about the speed of the vehicle

Question 14

In experiment 2, how long was left between asking about the speed and asking the critical Q?

Answer 14

1 week

Question 15

In experiment 2, what was the critical Q?

Answer 15

Did you see any broken glass?

Question 16

What was the mean speed estimate for ‘smashed’?

Answer 16

40.8

Question 17

What was the mean speed estimate for ‘collided’?

Answer 17

39.3

Question 18

What was the mean speed estimate for ‘bumped’?

Answer 18

38.1

Question 19

What was the mean speed estimate for ‘hit’?

Answer 19

34.0

Question 20

What was the mean speed estimate for ‘contacted’?

Answer 20

31.8

Question 21

How many P’s said ‘yes’ to seeing broken glass in the ‘Smashed’ condition?

Answer 21

16

Question 22

How many P’s said ‘yes’ to seeing broken glass in the ‘Hit’ condition?

Answer 22

7

Question 23

How many P’s said ‘yes’ to seeing broken glass in the control condition?

Answer 23

6

Question 24

How many P’s said ‘no’ to seeing broken glass in the ‘Smashed’ condition?

Answer 24

34

Question 25

How many P’s said ‘no’ to seeing broken glass in the ‘Hit’ condition?

Answer 25

43

Question 26

How many P’s said ‘no’ to seeing broken glass in the control condition?

Answer 26

44

Question 27

What were the conclusions of Experiment 1 of L&P?

Answer 27

• There are 2 possible explanations for the findings of exp 1 - response bias or altered memory
• Response bias = The different speed estimates occurred because the critical word (e.g.’smashed’ or ‘hit’) influenced/biased the P’s response
• Altered memory = the results could be due to the critical word changing the P’s memory so they actually ‘recall’ the accident differently, i.e. more or less severe
• L&P conducted the second experiment to test these conclusions

Question 28

What were the conclusions of Experiment 2 of L&P?

Answer 28

• The findings support the ‘altered memory’ conclusion from experiment 1
  -The leading Q’s used alter the P’s memory of the accident, causing them to recall broken glass when there wasn’t any
• The leading Q is combined with the original memory to create a new memory (reconstructive memory).