Loftus and Palmer

Question 1

What is the aim of Loftus and Palmer’s study in exp 1?

Answer 1

To investigate how information supplied after an event influences a witness’ memory of that event

Question 2

What method was used in Loftus and Palmer’s study in exp 1?

Answer 2

Lavatory experiment

Question 3

What was the independent variable of Loftus and Palmer’s study in exp 1?

Answer 3

The verb used in the critical question

Question 4

What was the critical question and in Loftus and Palmer’s study in exp 1?

Answer 4

“About how fast were the cars going in MPH when they [verb] each other?”

Question 5

What were the 5 verbs used in the critical question in exp 1?

Answer 5

Collided, contacted, bumped, smashed, hit

Question 6

What was the dependent variable of Loftus and Palmer’s study in exp 1?

Answer 6

The estimated speed of the cars given in MPH

Question 7

What was the experimental design of Loftus and Palmer’s study in exp 1?

Answer 7

Independent measures design

• participants only took part in one condition of the study based on the verb used
• each condition was assigned a different verb

Question 8

Outline the sample of Loftus and Palmer’s study in exp 1

Answer 8

• 45 students
• All participants from an American University
• Participants were split into 5 groups each containing 9 students

Question 9

Outline the procedure of Loftus and Palmer’s study in exp 1

Answer 9

• participants were asked to watch 7 video clips of different car accidents from educational videos (sourced from Seattle Police Department)
• Participants were given a questionnaire to complete after watching each video clip
• the questionnaire asked participants to give an account of the accident they’d just been shown followed by the critical question

Question 10

Give a quantitative result from Loftus and Palmer’s study in exp 1

Answer 10

Verb Mean speed estimate

Smashed   - 40.5 mph
Collided     - 39.3 mph 
Bumped     - 38.1 mph 
Hit              - 34.0 mph 
Contacted - 31.8 mph

Question 11

What is a schema?

Answer 11

Mental structures that an individual uses to organise knowledge and guide cognitive processes and behaviour

Question 12

What was the aim from Loftus and Palmer’s study in exp 2?

Answer 12

Exp 2 was designed to provide additional insight into the speed estimate differences found in the first study. Were the results due to a response bias, or had the memory actually been altered?

Question 13

What was the method of Loftus and Palmer’s study in exp 2?

Answer 13

Laboratory experiment

Question 14

What was the design of Loftus and Palmer’s study in exp 2?

Answer 14

Independent measures design

Question 15

What was the IV of Loftus and Palmer’s study in exp 2?

Answer 15

The use of the verbs ‘smashed’ or ‘hit’

Question 16

What was the DV of Loftus and Palmer’s study in exp 2?

Answer 16

The speed estimates given in mph and the responses given as to whether they recalled seeing broken glass

Question 17

Outline the participants used in of Loftus and Palmer’s study in exp 2?

Answer 17

• 150 students from an American University (different from exp 1)
• Participants were split into 3 groups each containing 50 participants (50 in smashed condition, 50 in hit condition, 50 in control condition)

Question 18

Outline the procedure of Loftus and Palmer’s study in exp 2?

Answer 18

• Participants were allocated into the three conditions, and were shown a video clip of a multiple car accident
• They were then asked to complete a questionnaire, asking them to describe the accident they had just witnessed in the clip, and were then asked a series of questions surrounding the accident, including the first critical question
• These participants were then asked to return 2 weeks later to complete another questionnaire without being shown the clip again. They were asked a series of 10 questions, including the second (closed) critical question ‘Did you see any broken glass?’ (The video did not contain any broken glass)

Question 19

What were the critical questions of Loftus and Palmer’s study in exp 2?

Answer 19

‘About how fast were the cars going when they ______ each other?’
‘Did you see any broken glass?’

Question 20

What were the results of Loftus and Palmer’s study in exp 2?

Answer 20

Response Smashed Hit Control
Speed Estimate 10.46 mph 8 mph N/A
Yes to Glass 16 7 6
No to Glass 34 43 44

Question 21

What was a conclusion drawn from Loftus and Palmer’s study?

Answer 21

The way a question is asked will enormously influence the answer that is given. Information obtained during the event and information obtained after the event will integrate with each other to form ‘one memory’