Memory: eyewitness testimony (anxiety)

Question 1

Who conducted the study?

Answer 1

Johnson and Scott (1976)

Question 2

What was the aim of the study?

Answer 2

To test wether or not anxiety can effect accuracy of testimony

Question 3

What was the sample of the study?

Answer 3

-volunteer participants

Question 4

What was the procedure of the study?

Answer 4

-participants asked to sit in waiting room
-participants split into 2 conditions

Question 5

What did the first condition consist of?

Answer 5

-overheard a conversation next door
-man left carrying a pen and grease on his hands

Question 6

What were the participants shown after the witnessing?

Answer 6

-50 photographs of men and asked who they saw

Question 6

What did the second condition consist of?

Answer 6

-overhead a heated exchange
-sound of breaking glass
-individual left carrying knife and blood on his hands

Question 7

What did the study find?

Answer 7

-49% correctly identified from the low-anxiety condition
-33% correctly identified from the high-anxiety condition

Question 8

What does the weapon focus effect do?

Answer 8

-creates anxiety

Question 9

What were some strengths to the study?

Answer 9

-highly controlled lab study
-collection of quantitive data (objective answer no interpretation)

Question 10

What was a negative to the study?

Answer 10

-lacks ecological validity:
.knew the answers wouldn’t convict someone