Loftus And Palmer

Question 1

Define schema theory.

Answer 1

How our previous experience / knowledge can distort our memory of an event.

Question 2

Define reconstructive memory.

Answer 2

The way in which our biases and prejudices can unconsciously lead us to have memories of events that are distortions of what actually happened.

Question 3

Define leading questions.

Answer 3

A question which, by its form or content, suggests what answer is desired.

Question 4

Define memory. CHECK

Answer 4

The ability to store and recall information.

Question 5

What is the background to Loftus and Palmer’s study?

Answer 5

• Eyewitness testimony is used a lot in court cases as evidence and if often trusted. However, memory research has shown that memory is often inaccurate and influenced by our pre-existing knowledge (schemas) leading to distorted memory for events. Loftus wanted to understand how an eyewitness’ memory can be influenced in order to ensure that information used in court is accurate.

Question 6

What was the aim of Loftus and Palmer’s study?

Answer 6

To investigate the effect of leading questions on memory.

Question 7

What was the research method used in Loftus and Palmer’s study? (It was the same for both experiments.)

Answer 7

Lab experiment as the IV was manipulated by the researcher and the study took place in a controlled setting.

Question 8

What was the experimental design? used in Loftus and Palmer’s study? (It was the same for both experiments.)

Answer 8

Independent measures design? CHECK

Question 9

Sampling method? CHECK

Question 10

What was the sample in experiment 1 of Loftus and Palmer’s study?

Answer 10

• 45 participants split into 5 groups of 9
• Washington, USA
• Students

Question 11

What’s was the independent variable in experiment 1 in Loftus and Palmer’s study?

Answer 11

The verb used in the critical question:

• Hit
• Collided
• Smashed
• Contacted
• Bumped

Question 12

What’s was the independent variable in experiment 1 in Loftus and Palmer’s study? check

Answer 12

The estimated speed of the car in the videos OR The mean speed estimate in miles per hour per condition.

Question 13

What was the procedure in experiment 1 in Loftus and Palmer’s study?

Answer 13

• Students were shown 7 film clips from Evergreen Safety Council of the Seattle Police Department. The staged clips lasted between 5 and 30 seconds. 4 out of 7 of the clips contained staged crashes of which the speed when they crashed was known. The clips were shown in a different order for each participant.
• After each clip they were given a questionarre or two parts
  - Firstly they were asked to give an account of the accident.
  - Then they would answer questions on the accident.

Question 14

What were the results of experiment 1 in Loftus and Palmer’s study?

Answer 14

• Smashed, 40.8mph
• Collide, 39.3mph
• Bumped, 38.1mph
• Hit, 34.0mph
• Contacted, 31.8mph

Question 15

What were the conclusions made from experiment 1 in Loftus and Palmer’s study?

Answer 15

• People are not good at estimating the speed of cars.
• The form of a question does change the answer given by a witness

Question 16

What explanations of the results were offered for experiment 1 in Loftus and Palmer’s study?

Answer 16

• Response bias:
  - The word in the critical question biases participants to give a different speed estimate.
• Memory change:
  • The word in the critical question changed the memory the participant had about how fast the car was going.

Question 17

Smoking method CHECK

Question 18

What was the sample in experiment 2 of Loftus and Palmer’s study?

Answer 18

• 150 participants split into 3 groups of 50.
• Washington, USA
• Students

Question 19

What was the independent variable in experiment 2 in Loftus and Palmer’s study?

Answer 19

The verb condition for the leading question: hit, smashed, control (not asked about speed).

Question 20

What was the dependent variable in experiment 2 in Loftus and Palmer’s study? check

Answer 20

The number of participants who said they remembered seeing broken glass in each condition. ** OR. ** Whether the participant (incorrectly) remembers seeing broken glass.

Question 21

What was the procedure in experiment 2 in Loftus and Palmer’s study?

Answer 21

• Participants watched a clip lasting 1 minute of a multiple car crash (the crash lasted four seconds of the clip). They then answered the first questionaire which included the critical question which was changed for each group:
  - About what speed were the cars going when they hit each other?
  - About what speed were the cars going when they smashed into each other?
  - Control condition: not asked about speed.
• A week later participants returned to answer 10 more questions including the critical ‘Did you see any broken glass?’

Question 22

What were the results of experiment 2 in Loftus and Palmer’s study?

Answer 22

The different verb conditions and the number of participants which remembered seeing broken glass:

• Smashed, 16 out of 50
• Hit, 7 out of 50
• Control, 6 out of 50

Question 23

What were the conclusions made from experiment 2 in Loftus and Palmer’s study?

Answer 23

The form of question does change the witnesses memory.

Question 24

What explanations of results were offered for experiment 2 in Loftus and Palmer’s study?

Answer 24

• Own perception:
  - Your own perception of the event is what you think happened (based on your own memory).

External information:
- External information is content given after the event. This can be though questioning from police, media coverage etc…