🟣 Memory: Factors affecting accuracy of eyewitness testimony

Question 1

What are the three two that impact the accuracy of eyewitness testimony

Answer 1

Misleading information

Anxiety

Question 2

What is misleading information

Answer 2

Incorrect information given to eyewitnesses usually after an event

Question 3

What are the main two types of misleading information

Answer 3

Leading questions

Post event discussion

Question 4

What are leading questions

Answer 4

They are questions which are phrased in a way that influences witnesses testimony as it implies a certain type of answer

Question 5

Describe the procedure on the research done on leading questions

Answer 5

They got 45 participants to watch a clip of car accidents then asked some question about it before asking the leading question

“About how fast were the cars going when they hit each other”

Participants were split into 5 groups and 4 of the groups had the verb “hit to contacted, bumped, collided and smashed

Question 6

Who conducted research done on leading questions and in what year

Answer 6

Loftus and Palmer (1974)

Question 7

What are the results of the research done on leading questions

Answer 7

Group with the verb contacted guessed an average speed of 31.8 mph

Group with the verb smashed guessed an average speed of 40.5mph

Question 8

What are the verbs (the IV) that influenced the results of the research done on leading questions by Loftus and Palmer (1974)

Answer 8

Hit

Collided

Smashed

Bumped

Contacted

Question 9

What did the results of the research on leading question show about leading questions as a concept

Answer 9

It shows that leading questions biased the eyewitnesses recall - decreasing the accuracy of eyewitness testimony

Question 10

What was the leading question that was asked during the procedure of the research on leading questions

Answer 10

About how fast were the cars going when they hit each other

Question 11

What are the two ways in which leading question can impact the accuracy of eyewitness testimony

Answer 11

Response-bias explanation

Substitution explanation

Question 12

What is the response-bias explanation of leading questions

Answer 12

It suggests that the wording of a question has no effect on the memory - but only influences the way in which the witness decides to reply

Question 13

What is the substitution explanation of leading questions

Answer 13

It suggests that the wording of a question alters the memory of the events that the witnesses experienced

Question 14

When was Loftus and Palmers second experiment on leading question, supporting the substitution explanation

Answer 14

1974

Question 15

Describe the results on Loftus and Palmers second experiment on leading question, supporting the substitution explanation

Answer 15

Participants who heard the word smashed were more likely to report seeing broken glass than those who heard the word hit

Question 16

Describe the procedure on the research done on post event discussion

Answer 16

Gabbert et al. (2003) got participants to watch a video of the same crime in pairs - but in different POV’s

And each person in a pair saw events that the other couldn’t see

After they watched the video they were given time to discuss the event

Question 17

What is post-event discussion

Answer 17

It is when witnesses discuss events with each other after it has occured

Question 18

Who conducted research done on post-event discussion and in what year

Answer 18

Gabbert et al. (2003)

Question 19

What are the results of the research done on post event discussion (Include the control group)

Answer 19

71% of participants recalled stuff of the event that they did not see themselves

In the control group 0% of other information was recalled by the other persons POV

Question 20

What did the results of the research on post-event discussion show

Answer 20

It shows that post-event discussion could lead to memory conformity

Question 21

What are the two ways in which post-event discussion can impact the accuracy of eyewitness testimony

Answer 21

Memory contamination

Memory conformity

Question 22

What is memory contamination

Answer 22

When witnesses combine information from what they’ve heard from other witnesses and what they recall from their own memories

Question 23

What is memory conformity

Answer 23

When witnesses go along with another witnesses POV because they think the other person is in the right - but the initial memory is unchanged

Question 24

Does knowing the affect that post-event discussion change anything and how

Answer 24

Yes - affects that post-event discussion will decrease when participants are aware of it

Question 25

What are the evaluation points of misleading information as a type of factor affecting the accuracy of eyewitness testimonies

Answer 25

Real-world application of misleading information

Counterpoint of real-world application

Evidence against substitution

Evidence challenging memory conformity

Question 26

What are the strengths of misleading information as a type of factor affecting the accuracy of eyewitness testimonies

Answer 26

Real-world application of misleading information

Question 27

What are the limitations of misleading information as a type of factor affecting the accuracy of eyewitness testimonies

Answer 27

Counterpoint of real-world application

Evidence against substitution

Evidence challenging memory conformity

Question 28

Describe the real-world application that strengthens misleading information as a factor affecting the accuracy of EWT

Answer 28

Psychologists can improve the way that legal systems work and can try to prevent inaccurate EWT’s by using Loftus’ (1975) beliefs on how leading questions can distort memory

Police officers are carful with their wording because of this

Question 29

Explain how the real-world application validates misleading information as a factor affecting the accuracy of EWT

Answer 29

It shows it is reliable at protecting innocent people

Question 30

Describe the real-world application counterpoint that limits misleading information as a factor affecting the accuracy of EWT

Answer 30

In Loftus and Palmer’s initial study (1974) participants were watching clips and not witnessing real life events

And Foster et al (1994) pointed out that real-world recalling holds consequences

Question 31

Explain how the real-world application counterpoint invalidates misleading information as a factor affecting the accuracy of EWT

Answer 31

It proves that the studies done of misleading information are pointless since participants don’t face any consequences for their statements

Question 32

Describe the evidence against substitution that limits misleading information as a factor affecting the accuracy of EWT

Answer 32

Sutherland and Hayne (2001) got participants to watch a clip and asked misleading questions afterwards

Participants recall for central details were more accurate than peripheral ones and shows that original memories for central details was not distorted

Question 33

Explain how the evidence against substitution invalidates misleading information as a factor affecting the accuracy of EWT

Answer 33

Substitution explanation did not account for central details not facing distortion

Question 34

Describe the evidence challenging memory conformity that limits misleading information as a factor affecting the accuracy of EWT

Answer 34

Skagerberg and Wright (2008) showed participants (in pairs) two versions of the same clips with slight variants and allowed the pairs to discuss what they saw afterwards

The participants did not just say what their partner saw, or only what they saw - but testified a blend of both

Question 35

Explain how the evidence challenging memory conformity invalidates misleading information as a factor affecting the accuracy of EWT

Answer 35

The blend suggests that memory is disturbed through memory contamination and not memory conformity which initial research on post-event discussion id not account for

Question 36

How would anxiety have a negative effect on recall

Answer 36

Anxiety could create physiological arousal in the body worsening recall as it prevents us from paying attention

Question 37

How would anxiety have a positive affect on recall

Answer 37

Anxiety could create physiological arousal in the body improving recall as it would initiate the flight or flight response which increases awareness

Question 38

How can the presence of a weapon impact recall

Answer 38

It leads to the focus on the weapon and not any other details of the event

Question 39

Who researched the negative effect that anxiety has on recall

Answer 39

Johnson and Scott (1976)

Question 40

When did Johnson and Scott investigate the negative effect that anxiety has on recall

Answer 40

1976

Question 41

Describe the procedure of the negative effect that anxiety has on recall (Johnson and Scott)

Answer 41

There were two conditions of participants which Johnson and Scott lead them to believe they were in a lab study

While seated in a waiting room participants in the low anxiety condition heard casual conversation followed by a man exiting the room with greasy hands and a pen in his hands

Whereas participants in the high anxiety condition heard a heated argument followed by a man exiting with bloody hands and a knife

Participants in both conditions were then told to pick out the man out of 50 photos

Question 42

What were the two conditions of the investigation on negative effect on recall

Answer 42

Low anxiety condition (casual conversation followed by mean with greasy hands and a pen)

High anxiety condition (heated argument followed by a mean with bloody hands and a knife)

Question 43

What are the findings on the investigation of the negative effects that anxiety has on recall

Answer 43

When asked to pick out the man out of 50 pictures

49% of people in the low-anx condition were able to identify the man

and

33% of people in the high-anx condition were able to identify the man

Question 44

What is tunnel theory

Answer 44

A theory which suggests that people have enhanced memory for central events

Question 45

What is an example of tunnel theory

Answer 45

Weapon focus

Question 46

Who researched the positive effect that anxiety has on recall

Answer 46

Yuille and Cutshall (1986)

Question 47

When did Yuille and Cutshall investigate the negative effect that anxiety has on recall

Answer 47

1986

Question 48

Describe the procedure of the positive effect that anxiety has on recall (Yuille and Cutshall)

Answer 48

Yuille and Cutshall (1986) conducted a study with 13⁄21 witnesses of a shooting in a gun shop in Vancouver, Canada where a gun owner shot a thief dead.

They interviewed these witnesses 4-5 months after the incident and compared the new interview to the original police interview

and

witnesses were asked how they felt at the time of the incident on a (7 point scale) and were asked if they had any emotional problems

Question 49

What are the findings on the investigation of the positive effects that anxiety has on recall

Answer 49

Although details such as age/height and weight estimations were less accurate

Results show that recall for those who reported higher stress levels showed 88% of accurate recall compared to 75% for those reported to be less stressed

Question 50

What are the contradictory findings on the effects anxiety has on recall

Answer 50

The contradictory finding is that the relationship between emotional arousal and performance is like an inverted U - and that too high and too low anxiety has a negative affect on recall

Question 51

Who discovered the contradictory finding on the effects anxiety has on recall

Answer 51

Yerkes and Dodson (1908)

Question 52

What year did Yerkes and Dodson encounter the contradictory findings on the effects anxiety has on recall

Answer 52

1908

Question 53

Describe the Labyrinth of Horror procedure

Answer 53

Researchers did a real word study were they offered people discounts to take part of their study in the Labyrinth of Horror at the London dungeon

At the end of the visit they self reported their anxiety levels and wore wireless heart monitors to verify the anxiety they experienced and were split into high anx and low anx category

Participants were then asked to describe a person (an actor in the labyrinth) that they encountered

Question 54

Who conducted the Labyrinth of Horror procedure

Answer 54

Valentine and Mesout (2009)

Question 55

What are the finding of the Labyrinth of Horror procedure

Answer 55

High anx participants recalled fewest correct details and made more mistakes

17% of high anx participants correctly identified the actor compared to 75% correct by those in the low anx group

Question 56

What are the evaluation points of anxiety as a factor affecting the accuracy of eyewitness testimony

Answer 56

Unusualness has a negative effect on anxiety and not anxiety

Research supporting the positive effect anxiety has on recall

Research supporting the negative effect anxiety has on recall

Research supporting the positive effect anxiety has on recall counterpoint

Question 57

What are the limitations of anxiety as a factor affecting the accuracy of eyewitness testimony (Eval points)

Answer 57

Unusualness has a negative effect on anxiety and not anxiety

Research supporting the positive effect anxiety has on recall counterpoint

Question 58

What are the strengths of anxiety as a factor affecting the accuracy of eyewitness testimony (Eval points)

Answer 58

Research supporting the positive effect anxiety has on recall

Research supporting the negative effect anxiety has on recall

Question 59

Explain how unusualness impacting recall limits anxiety as a factor that affects the accuracy of eyewitness testimony

Answer 59

Johnson and Scott’s study may have tested unusualness and not anxiety

It shows that research that shows the affect that anxiety has on recall is not accurate

Question 60

What study showed that unusualness is a factor that affects recall and not anxiety

Question 61

Describe study showed that unusualness is a factor that affects recall and not anxiety