Memory Exam Questions Flashcards
Outline and evaluate research into the effects of leading questions on the accuracy of eyewitness testimony
In loftus and palmers study, participants were shown a video of Two cars colliding. They were all asked to estimate how fast the cars were going at the time but the wording of the question was slightyb different. Some were asked “how fast were the cars going when they smashed into each other?” And others were asked “how fast were the cars going when they hit each other?”
Participants gave a faster estimation of speed if they heard the word smashed (mean estimate 41mlp) than words like hit (34mph) also those who one week early heard smashed were more likely to day they had seen broken glass.
Loftus and Palmer concluded that what we are asked after an incident can become mixed with our memory. Our memories can be altered.
However there are limitations of this study. In a real life situation, participants would feel anxious which could affect their recall but they wouldn’t feel anxious watching a video. Also the participants were deceived on what they were testing and the participants could of discussed their opinions.
A strength is that is was done in controlled conditions and it provided quantitative data
Describe interference as an explanation for forgetting
This theory explains that forgetting occurs when new or old information affects our memory.
Proactive interference is when old information interferes with new where as retro active is when new information affects old information.
2 lots of info become confused
Interference occurs more when the 2 lots of information are similar
Explain why it might be better the carry out research into eyewitness testimony in the real world than in a lab
The purpose is investigating eye witness testimony is to know how to improve it in real cases. If research is done in a lab then real world reactions are not being not being measured and so the conclusions may lack validity.
If research is done in the real world then there can be no accusations of low ecological validity and the results can be generalised to real life
Explain how anxiety might have affected eyewitness testimony of this event. Refer to psychological reseRch
In this situation friends and relatives are likely to be anxious
Loftus carried out a study into the effect of anxiety on the accuracy of eyewitness testimony. Participants were split in two groups. One group overheard an argument and then saw a man leave the room holding a pen and with grease on his hands. The other group overheard a heated argument, clattering of equipment and then a man walking out with A bloodstained knife.
Both groups were tested on their ability to identify the man they had seen from 50 photos.
Group 1 performed significantly better suggesting that group two were anxious
Choose one study of the working memory model and briefly outline what the participants had to do
Baddeley aimed to investigate the existence of the inner voice. To do this, participants had to memorised a list of short words. He then repeated the study but participants had to memorise a list of long words. They had to write down as many as they could remember and the number of words were compared
Identify and outline 2 techniques that may be used in a cognitive interview
Recall the event in different orders- eg start with what happened last
Report every detail- witnesses are encouraged to include every single detail of the even even though it may seem irrelevant. Trivial details may be important and could trigger other important memories
