Memory: Factors effective eye witness testimony

Question 1

What are the factors affecting eyewitness testimony…

Answer 1

1. Misleading Information
   - misleading questions
   - post-event discussion
2. Anxiety

Question 2

Outline Research into misleading questions

Answer 2

Loftus and Palmer 
How fast was the car going when it 
'contacted' 31.8 mph
'smashed' 40.5 mph
those who heard smash more likely to report seeing broken glass (substitution explanation)

Question 3

Why do leading questions affect eye witness testimony

Answer 3

1. Response Bias explanation
   Wording of question doesn’t effect memory but influences how hey answer the question
2. Substitution explanation
   Wording of question actually changed memory

Question 4

Outline research into post event discussion

Answer 4

Fiona Gabbert
PPs in pairs watched same crime, each filmed from diff perspective
Both pps discussed what they seen, before individual questioning
71% of pps mistakenly recalled aspects of event compared to 0% in control group

Question 5

Evaluate Misleading information as a factor affecting eyewitness testimony

Answer 5

+ Real life application (eye witness testimony)

• Unrealistic watching clip compared to real life
• Individual differences (age effects accuracy)

Question 6

Outline anxiety as a factor affecting eyewitness testimony:

Answer 6

• Anxiety has negative impact
• Anxiety has positive impact
• Explaining contradictory findings

Question 7

Outline anxiety as a factor affecting eyewitness testimony:

- Anxiety has a negative impact

Answer 7

Johnson + Scott
Heard argument
‘low anxiety’ pps carrying pen - 49% could recall
‘high anxiety’ pps carrying knife - 33% could recall
Tunnel theory - attention narrows to source of anxiety (eg weapon)

Question 8

Outline anxiety as a factor affecting eyewitness testimony:

- Anxiety has a positive impact

Answer 8

Yuille + Cutshall
13 witnesses from shooting interviewed
4-5 months after incident
Those who reported highest level of stress had more accurate recall

Question 9

Outline anxiety as a factor affecting eyewitness testimony:

- Explaining contradictory findings

Answer 9

Yerkes and Dodson
Inverted U shape
Optimum level of anxiety
Too low or too high results in lower accuracy

Question 10

Evaluate Anxiety as a factor affecting eyewitness testimony

Answer 10

• Ethical issues with causing harm
• Demand Characteristics
• Weapon focus may be due to them being surprised not anxious