Loftus & Palmer - CLASSIC Flashcards
What was the main hypothesis of the study?
The language used in eyewitness testimony can alter memory
This hypothesis suggests that the way questions are phrased can influence a witness’s recollection of events.
What was the aim of the study?
To show that leading questions could distort eyewitness testimony
Leading questions are those that suggest a particular answer or contain information that can influence the response.
What type of experiment was conducted?
Lab experiment with independent measures design
What was the sample size for Experiment 1?
45 students from University of Washington
What was the sample size for Experiment 2?
150 students from University of Washington
What type of sampling method was used for the participants?
Opportunity/convenience sampling
What materials were used in Experiment 1?
7 film clips, questionnaire
What was the main material used in Experiment 2?
1 minute film containing car crash
Procedure for experiment 1?
45 Participants, 5 groups for 5 verbs.
Verbs:
Smashed
Collided
Bumped
Hit
Contacted
Watched 7 clips of car crash/road safety videos.
Critical question : ’How fast were the cars going when they ______ each other?’
Procedure for experiment 2?
150 participants, 3 groups for 2 verbs and 1 control group
Verbs:
Hit
Smashed
Watched 1 minute video of a multiple car crash.
1 week later, participants were asked, ’Did you see any broken glass?’
Results for experiment 1?
Mean speed estimates:
Smashed - 40.5mph
//
Contacted - 31.8mph
Results for experiment 2?
Saw broken glass VS Did not see broke glass
Smashed = 16:34
Hit = 7:43
Control = 6:44
IVs and DVs
IV for both:
- verb used
DV for 1:
- estimation of speed
DV for 2:
- glass or no glass
Conclusions
Questioning techniques can distort memory.
Memory is susceptible to change and decay.
Both information during and after an event can distort memories and create false ones.
What is a strength of lab experiments?
High internal validity
Lab experiments are designed to control extraneous variables, allowing for more accurate conclusions about cause and effect.
What is a weakness of lab experiments?
Low ecological validity
Lab experiments often lack real-world applicability due to their artificial settings.
Strengths of using independent measures design?
No order effects
Participants are only exposed to one condition, eliminating potential biases from their experience in multiple conditions.
Less time consuming
This design allows researchers to gather data more quickly as each participant contributes to only one condition.
Weakness of independent measures?
Participant variables
Individual differences among participants that can affect results
These variables can introduce bias if not controlled, influencing the outcome of the study.
What ethical considerations are mentioned in the context of the study?
Deception, confidentiality, harm, debrief, withdrawal, and consent
What was a key issue regarding valid consent in the experiment?
Participants were not aware of the true aim of the experiment
What potential psychological harm was highlighted in the study?
Car crashes could be traumatising
What does high internal validity indicate in this study?
No external variables affected the results
What is a noted limitation regarding external validity?
Lab setting is artificial; only staged clips were used instead of real crashes
How is reliability assessed in this study?
The study is standardised; participants were asked the same questions and watched the same videos
What is a concern regarding sampling bias in this study?
College students do not reflect older people who may have worse memory
What ethnocentric issue is present in the study’s sample?
Only American students from the ** University of Washington** were included, making the results not generalisable
