Loftus and Palmer (1974): Study Guide

Question 1

What was the aim of Loftus and Palmer’s (1974) study?

Answer 1

To investigate how the wording of a question can influence the recall of an event, specifically in the context of eyewitness testimony.

Question 2

What was the procedure of Loftus and Palmer’s (1974) study?

Answer 2

Participants watched a video of a car accident and were then asked how fast the cars were going. The critical question was phrased with different verbs (e.g., “hit,” “bumped,” “collided,” “smashed,” “contacted”).

Question 3

What were the findings of Loftus and Palmer’s (1974) study?

Answer 3

The verb used influenced participants’ estimates of the speed of the cars. Those asked with more intense verbs (e.g., “smashed”) reported higher speed estimates than those asked with less intense verbs (e.g., “contacted”).

Question 4

What theory does Loftus and Palmer’s (1974) study support?

Answer 4

The theory of the malleability of memory, suggesting that memory can be altered by external factors, such as the way questions are phrased.