Memory: eyewitness testimony (post event discussion)

Question 1

Who conducted the study?

Answer 1

Gabbert et al (2003)

Question 2

What was the aim of the study?

Answer 2

To see if an eyewitness’s memory of an event can be influenced by discussion with other witnesses

Question 3

What was the sample of the study?

Answer 3

-120 from aberdeen
-60 young
-60 old

Question 4

What was the procedure of the study?

Answer 4

-participants watched a video of a girl stealing money from a wallet
-tested in a control group or in pairs
-the pairs were told they watched the same video but they had seen different perspectives of the same crime (only 1 witnessed the girl stealing)
-pairs were asked to discuss what they saw

Question 5

What did the study find?

Answer 5

-71% recalled information they hadn’t seen but picked up in the discussion.
-no errors were made in the control group.

Question 6

What were some strengths to the study?

Answer 6

-highly controlled
-strong population validity (young and old) (large sample)

Question 7

What was a negative to the study?

Answer 7

-lacks ecological validity:
.participants knew their answers weren’t used to convict someone so are more likely to potentially provide inaccurate info.
-demand characteristics:
.participants want to be helpful so may guess some questions.