Memory - Eyewitness testimony

Question 1

What is Eye Witness Testimony?

Answer 1

when an observer of a crime’s recollection of events is used in as evidence in a criminal trial

Question 2

Memory is ‘reconstructive’. What does this mean?

Answer 2

We ‘reconstruct’ an account of events and this can be influenced by our prior knowledge, expectations and things we experience after events

Question 3

Real life example of EWT inaccuracy ?????? (Needed???)

Answer 3

Jean Charles de Menezes

Question 4

Factors affecting the reliability of EWT

Answer 4

1. Anxiety
2. Misleading information
   
   • leading Qs
   • post event discussion
3. Improving EWT & interviews
   (cognitive interview)

Question 5

Evidence for the role of anxiety reducing accuracy of EWT

Answer 5

Loftus’ Bloodstained knife study

• participants less able to accurately identify the man carrying a ‘knife’ to that carrying a pen
• higher anxiety & ‘weapon focus’ taking attention
• anxiety makes recall less accurate

Question 6

Evidence for anxiety increasing accuracy of EWT

Answer 6

Christianson & Hubinette

• real life bank robberies
• people who had been directly threatened had more accurate recall of robber’s clothing, behaviour & weapon than bystanders
• superior recall still present 15 months later
• anxiety may be helpful & improve recall in real-life, stressful situations

Question 7

Research into the effect of leading information on EWT

Answer 7

Loftus & Palmer - leading questions car crash

• participants gave different estimations of the same cars’ speed when asked questions worded differently (smashed/hit)
• if heard ‘smashed’ and asked about broken glass claimed to see things that weren’t there
• the way we are asked about an incident affects our memory for it. Leading questions can alter our memory, making it less accurate.

Question 8

Research into Post event discussion & EWT

Answer 8

Gabbert (wallet)

• 71% claimed to see things they didn’t after talking to someone who had seen a slightly different video
• 60% believed the girl was guilty despite never seeing her actually stealing
• people’s discussion of events can influence their memories and judgement (lowering accuracy & reliability)

Question 9

Practical implications of post event discussion

Answer 9

• don’t let eyewitnesses talk to each other
• monitor the information on events released in the press
• interview eyewitnesses as soon as possible after events

Question 10

How can EWT be improved & why does it help?

Answer 10

cognitive interview method

- increases retrieval cues so witnesses can retrieve more information

Question 11

what is the cognitive interview?

Answer 11

Context
- recreate e.g. how did you feel?
weather?

Report every detail

Order

• recall events in different order
  e. g. start at end

Perspective
  - report from different    
    perspectives 
   e.g. someone at back of room, 
          birdseye

Question 12

what are the conditions of a cognitive interview process?

Answer 12

• police will never interrupt
• eyewitnesses advised to speak
  slowly
• told not to guess, honest if they
  don’t remember
• police should take steps to
  reduce anxiety
• open-ended Qs (avoid leading &
  maximise information)

Question 13

Research into the cognitive interview

Answer 13

Geiselman

• compared to standard police interview
• groups interviewed using standard remembered less (50%) correct details than CROP
• number of incorrect details same across both groups
• CROP technique aids greater recall but does not affect accuracy