Loftus and Palmer (1974)

Question 1

What was the aim in Loftus and Palmer?

Answer 1

To test their hypothesis that the language used in eyewitness testimony can alter memory.

Question 2

What is the schema theory?

Answer 2

Schema theory proposes that memory is influenced by what an individual already knows, and that their use of past experience to deal with a
new experience is a fundamental feature of the way the human mind works.

Question 3

What was the research method used in experiment 1 and outline the DV and IV.

Answer 3

This was a laboratory experiment using an independent measures design.

IV: the wording of a critical question hidden in a questionnaire. ( hit / smashed / collided / contacted / bumped)

DV: the estimated speed given by the participant.

Question 4

What was the research method used in experiment 2 and outline the DV and IV.

Answer 4

A laboratory experiment using an independent measures design.

IV: the wording on a question in a questionnaire:
Worded smashed, hit or no word?

One week later, all participants were asked to complete another questionnaire which contained the critical question, “Did you see any broken
glass?”

DV: whether the answer to this question was, “Yes/No.

Question 5

What was the sample used in experiment 1?

Answer 5

45 students were divided into five groups with nine participants in each group

Question 6

What was the sample used in experiment 2?

Answer 6

150 students were divided into three groups with 50 participants in each group

Question 7

Outline the procedure in experiment 1?

Answer 7

All participants were shown the same seven film clips of different traffic accidents which were originally made as part of a driver safety film.

After each clip participants were given a questionnaire which asked them firstly to describe the accident and then answer a series of questions
about the accident.

There was one critical question in the questionnaire: “About how fast were the cars going when they hit each other?”

One group was given this question while the other four groups were given the verbs “smashed’, ‘collided’, ‘contacted’ or ‘bumped’, instead of ‘hit’

Question 8

Outline the procedure in experiment 2?

Answer 8

All participants were shown a one-minute film which contained a four-second multiple car crash.

They were then given a questionnaire which asked them to describe the accident and answer a set of questions about the incident.

One week later, all participants, without seeing the film again, completed another questionnaire about the accident which contained the
further critical question, “Did you see any broken glass – Yes/No?” There had been no broken glass in the original film.

Question 9

What were the main findings for experiment 1?

Answer 9

Smashed produced the fastest speed estimates (40.5mph) and contacted the slowest (31.8mph)

Question 10

What were the main findings for experiment 2?

Answer 10

More participants in the ‘smashed’ condition (16) than either the ‘hit’ (7) or control (6) groups reported seeing broken glass.

The majority of participants in each group correctly recalled that they had not seen any broken glass.

Question 11

What are the possible findings from this study?

Answer 11

The verb used in a question influences a participant’s response i.e. the way a question is phrased influences the answer given.

People are not very good at judging vehicular speed.

Misleading post event information can distort an individual’s memory

Question 12

Evaluate the research methods used in Loftus and Palmers study?

Answer 12

Controlled laboratory experiment which fulfilled the scientific criteria of theory, control, evidence and replication.

However, experiment lacks ecological validity due to artificial setting.

Question 13

Evaluate the data collected in Loftus and Palmers study?

Answer 13

This study collected and reported quantitative data and this enables results to be easily summarised, an average of the estimated speeds in experiment 1.

Comparison between conditions was easier.

Question 14

What are the ethical issues in Loftus and Palmers study?

Answer 14

Slight degree of deception but participants knew it was a test of memory.

The experiment was conducted ethically.

Question 15

Assess the validity of research by Loftus and Palmer.

Answer 15

A highly controlled laboratory experiment, high design validity.

The procedure was standardised: questions, film clips, task.

However as the participants know they are in a study this may have affected the outcome of the study.

Question 16

Assess the ecological validity of research by Loftus and Palmer.

Answer 16

Low ecological validity as it is carried out in a controlled artificial setting.

Participants were told to remember what they had seen, in a real car crash individuals would not be consciously trying to remember what they have seen.

In a real situation they would be under a lot more stress, the experiment had no emotional connection with the event.

Question 17

Assess the relaibility of research by Loftus and Palmer.

Answer 17

High internal reliability due to standardised procedure, replicated across multiple participants.

This experiment has been recreated establishing test-retest reliability.

Reliability in the findings as consistent results found that leading questions can distort memory.

Question 18

To what extent can Loftus and Palmers sample be seen as bias?

Answer 18

They were all collage students, lacks generalisbility to a larger sample.

The students only represent a narrow age group, upper levels of family income and education.

You need high cognative ability to gain entry in to university.

Not all the sample may have been able to drive.

Question 19

What what extent can research by Loftus and Palmer be seen as ethnocentric

Answer 19

Cognitive processes such as reconstructive memory, depend upon the physiognomy of out brain and this is the same in all cultures.

However, university students tend to have high cognitive function than the rest of the general populations and tent to come from upper and middle social classes.

Question 20

Discuss if this study supports psychology as a science.

Answer 20

Controlled laboratory experiment which fulfilled the scientific criteria of theory, control, evidence and replication.

Cognitive area studies support this claim that psychology is a science discipline.

Question 21

Discuses the usefulness of research by Loftus and Palmer.

Answer 21

very useful, it showed that it is possible to distort eye witness testimonies. This has large repercussions with police.