Memory: eyewitness testimony (anxiety) Flashcards
Who conducted the study?
Johnson and Scott
What was the aim of the study?
To test wether or not anxiety can effect accuracy of testimony
What was the sample of the study?
-volunteer participants
What was the procedure of the study?
-participants asked to sit in waiting room
-participants split into 2 groups
What did the first group experience?
-overheard a conversation next door
-individual left carrying a pen and grease on his hands
What were the participants shown after the witnessing?
-photographs of men and asked who they saw
What did the second group experience?
-overhead a heated exchange
-sound of breaking glass and chairs crashing
-individual left carrying knife and blood on his hands
What did the study find?
-49% correctly identified from the no weapon group
-33% correctly identified from the weapon focus group
What does the weapon focus effect do?
-creates anxiety
What were some strengths to the study?
-highly controlled lab study
-collection of quantitive data (objective answer no interpretation)
What was a negative to the study?
-lacks ecological validity:
.knew the answers wouldn’t convict someone