Loftus and Palmer 1974 (Crim) Flashcards
Aim:
to investigate whether leading questions would influence the estimates of speeds of a vehicle among eyewitnesses.
Result for experiment 1:
participants presented with the verb smashed estimated the fastest speed (40.5 mph) of the car contacted produced the slowest estimate (31.8mph) with a difference of 9mph
conclusion for experiment 1:
A change in the verb would significantly affect the eyewitnesses answer to the questions due to two reasons:
- Ppts were uncertain of the speed and the verb being used to describe the contact of the cars created a bias and influenced their decisions
- the wording of the question caused a change in the ppts memory of the accident, so they remember it as being more severe than it was.
Result for experiment 2:
In all conditions most participants identified that there was no broken glass
the results were found to be significant using chi squared
a significantly higher number in the ‘smashed’ condition reported seeing broken glass 32%=16ppl the hit condition said 14% (7 ppl) and the control condition said 12% = 6ppl.
conclusion for experiment 2:
Loftus some Palmer argued there is two kinds of information that go into a person’s memory of a complex event:
- information obtained from witnessing the event
- other information supplied after the event
As time passed the two sources may merge and become one, making it harder to know the source of some details. This creates one overall memory of the event called reconstructive hypothesis.
Loftus and Palmer concluded reconstructive memory exists and the wording of the question can affect eyewitness testimony
coming up the questions suggest a specific response that may also witnesses memory of an event
ethical:
+ ethics sound as participants not home during data collection
- use of filler questions may be deceptive
Practical issues:
- lab experiment so low ecological validity
- Harder to get representative sample as real eyewitnesses to real crimes can’t be used
+ highly reliable due to standardized procedures
+ uses statistical tests which increases internal validity
+ quantitative data which is objective.
Reductionism:
memory is measured by changing only one verb
+ shows the impact of how changing one verb can affect speed estimates
- it breaks down complex eyewitness testimony into smaller components for example verbs.
Psychology as a science:
+ both are lab experiments with standardized procedures for example all given questionnaires
+ highly reliable due to standardized procedures
+ High internal validity as there is low extraneous variables
+ Quantative data is objective and can do statistical analysis
+highly controlled
+ Can infer cause and effect
+ reductionist
+ using a control group increases validity and scientific credibility.
culture & gender:
ethnocentric as done in Washington USA
Psychological knowledge over time:
based on reconstructive memory by Bartlett, suggest memory is an active process an influenced by experiences expectations and prior knowledge EG schemas.
Loftus and Palmer found when leading question was used to people remembered differently.
social control:
research could be used by psychiatrists to influence memory.
could be used by police and criminal justice system to coerce eyewitnesses to manipulate memory
psychological knowledge in society:
leading questions can be used to influence the answers given by eyewitnesses, so leading questions must be avoided by the police or lawyers when interviewing witnesses EG the police use the PEACE model which avoids leading questions.
socially sensitive research:
it may discredit eyewitnesses even when they are correct
controversial research could lead to negative attention given to researchers
