Loftus and Palmer (1974)

Question 1

reconstructive memory definition

Answer 1

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 2

leading questions definition

Answer 2

a question that by its form or content suggests to the witness what answer is desired or leads them to the desired answer

Question 3

aim of loftus and palmer experiment

Answer 3

to investigate the effects of language on memory

Question 4

what research method used in the experiment and how do we know

Answer 4

laboratory experiment, the IV (critical question) was manipulated by the experimenter, and the study took place in a controlled environment

Question 5

in what way was the data collected

Answer 5

through a questionnaire

Question 6

describe the sample in experiment one

Answer 6

45 student participants split into 5 groups of 9 from Washington USA

Question 7

name the 5 verbs used in the different conditions of experiment 1 (IV)

Answer 7

contacted, hit, bumped, collided, smashed

Question 8

what was the dependent variable of experiment one

Answer 8

the mean speed estimate (in miles per hour)

Question 9

Describe the procedure of experiment one

Answer 9

• participants shown SEVEN film clips, given a questionnaire to complete after each clip
• two parts of the questionnaire: give an account of the accident just seen, answer a set of questions related to the accident
  (researchers interested in critical question about the speed of the vehicle)
• groups presented with a different order of films to prevent order effects ( exp lasted around 1 hour 30 min)
• IV manipulated by changing the wording of the critical question with different verbs
  (critical question dependent variable, hidden by distracter questions)
• question format ‘about how fast were the cars going when they —– each other?’
• each subject received one of 5 questions in their questionnaire, theorised stronger verb equals higher speed estimate

Question 10

what is the mean speed estimate for the verb smashed

Answer 10

40.8mph

Question 11

what is the mean speed estimate for the verb collided

Answer 11

39.3mph

Question 12

what is the mean speed estimate for the verb bumped

Answer 12

38.1mph

Question 13

what is the mean speed estimate for the verb hit

Answer 13

34.0mph

Question 14

what is the mean speed estimate for the verb contacted

Answer 14

31.8mph

Question 15

conclusions from experiment one

Answer 15

the form of the question affected the witnesses

Question 16

Describe interpretation 1 of experiment 1 explanation of results

Answer 16

(Response bias)
- the word in the critical question biases participants to give a different speed estimate

Question 17

Describe interpretation 2 of experiment 1 explanation of results

Answer 17

(Memory change)
The language used causes a change in the participants memory representation of events (the verb ‘smashed’ could mean the participants ‘see’ a more severe accident when trying to remember it)

Question 18

What experimental design was used in experiment 2 and why

Answer 18

Laboratory experiment, DV and IV controlled in a controlled environment

Question 19

Describe the sample in experiment 2

Answer 19

• 150 student participants (divided into 3 groups of 50)
• Washington USA

Question 20

Describe stage 1 of experiment 2

Answer 20

• participants watch a less than a minute film showing a multiple car crash
• asked to fill out 1/3 versions of a questionnaire (depending on the group)

Question 21

Describe stage 2 of experiment 2

Answer 21

• participants asked 10 questions
• contains critical question ‘did you see any broken glass?’

Question 22

What were the 3 conditions of the independent variable in experiment 2

Answer 22

50 participants asked
- ‘about how fast were the cars going when they smashed into each other?’
Or
- ‘about how fast were the cars going when they hit each other?’
Or
- not asked about speed of vehicles, control group

Question 23

What was the dependent variable of experiment 2

Answer 23

The number of participants from each condition of the experiment who said they remembered having seen broken glass in the video

Question 24

How many participants in the ‘smashed’ verb condition remembered seeing broken glass

Answer 24

16/50

Question 25

How many participants in the ‘hit’ verb condition remembered seeing broken glass

Answer 25

7/50

Question 26

How many participants in the control group remembered seeing broken glass

Answer 26

6/50

Question 27

What were the conclusions of experiment 2

Answer 27

The verb used in a question can affect the speed a witness estimates at and whether they recall having seeing broken glass
- the form of a question does affect a witnesses’ memory)

Question 28

What two things make up our memory of a complex event

Answer 28

Our own perception- the event is what you think happened, based off your own memory
External information- content given after the event (can be through police questions, media coverage etc.)
-> hard to distinguish between the two when recalling a memory

Question 29

In what ways is this study ethnocentric

Answer 29

Only students from America (upper middle class) were studied
- could only reflect how university educated peoples cognitive processes work

Question 30

In what ways is this study not ethnocentric

Answer 30

Reconstructive memory depends on the physiognomy of our brain, so it’s investigating species-species behaviour (cognitive processes are universal)