Memory: EWT accuracy

Question 1

What is misleading information?

Answer 1

When an eyewitness is exposed to incorrect information prior to recall of the event.

Question 2

What are the two parts of misleading information?

Answer 2

Leading questions
Post event discussion

Question 3

What are leading questions?

Answer 3

Questions which encourage or prompt a particular response

Question 4

Describe research into leading questions

Answer 4

• Loftus and Palmer
• 45 American students saw films containing traffic accidents.
• Critical question = ‘how fast were the cars going when they (contacted/hit/bumped/collided/smashed)
• When verb smashed used, higher estimate of speed.

Question 5

Describe post event discussion

Answer 5

Witnesses of the same crime discuss the details of the event after it has occurred resulting in memory conformity/memory contamination

Question 6

Describe research into post event discussion

Answer 6

• Gabbert et al.
• ppts watched films from different perspectives
• Complete questionnaire individually or with co witness
• 71% reported information from the co-witness

Question 7

Evaluation

Answer 7

+ Real world practical application in cognitive interview

• Lab studies = demand characteristics (however controlled)
• Skagerberg and wright: ppts blend two pieces of info instead of remembering one or the other: no memory conformity
• Foster et al: real EWT has important consequences, research ppts less likely to be accurate