loftus and palmer

Question 1

aim of both experiments

Answer 1

to investigate how information provided to a witness after n event will influence their memory of that event

Question 2

method of both experiments

Answer 2

2 lab experiments
independent measures design
IV= verbs used
DV= the estimate of speed or whether the P saw glass

Question 3

what was the method of experiment one

Answer 3

45 students were shown a short video clip
split into 5 groups with 9 in each
all p’s were asked about how fast the cars were going when they _________ each other
blank filled with ‘contacted,bumped,hit,collided,smashed’
dependent variable was the estimate of speed

Question 4

results of experiment one

Answer 4

smashed - speed of 40.8
collided - speed of 39.3
bumped - speed of 38.1
hit - speed of 34.0
contacted - speed of 31.8

Question 5

what do the results of experiment one show

Answer 5

how the question was phrased influenced the participants speed estimate. smashed estimated a higher speed than contacted.

Question 6

strengths of experiment one

Answer 6

• ethical
• reliable as tested two groups
• standardised procedure so can be replicated and controlled
• useful as shows how p’s can be persuaded
• can be applied to improve eyewitness testimony

Question 7

weaknesses of experiment one

Answer 7

• only students used so same age range and from the same area so not generalisable
• not realistic as done in a lab
• lacks mundane realism (task)
• knew they were expected to watch the video so pain more attention which makes it not ecologically valid
• students may be more accurate with results

Question 8

method of experiment two

Answer 8

DIFFERENT GROUPS OF STUDENTS
150 students show a short film (multi-vehicle accident)
3 groups with 50 in each
one group were asked ‘how fast when they HIT’
second was asked ‘how fast when they SMASHED’
and the last group weren’t asked (control)
one week later all groups were asked if they saw any broken glass (there was none)

Question 9

results of experiment two

Answer 9

SMASHED GROUP - 16 said yes and 34 said no
HIT GROUP - 7 said yes and 43 said no
CONTROL GROUP - 6 said yes and 44 said no

Question 10

what do the results of experiment two show

Answer 10

control group were using their schemas and it used a leading question
the results show that the verb used in the original question influenced whether the participant saw broken glass