Memory - Misleading Information (EWT) Flashcards
What is eyewitness testimony (EWT)?
Eyewitness testimony (EWT) is the ability of people to remember the details of events, such as accidents and crimes, which they themselves have observed. Accuracy of EWT can be affected by factors such as misleading information, leading questions, and anxiety.
What is misleading information?
Misleading information is incorrect information given to the eyewitness usually after the event (hence often called ‘post-event information’). It can take many forms, such as leading questions and post-event discussion between co-witnesses and other people.
What is a leading question?
A leading question is a question which, because of the way it is phrased, suggests a certain answer. For example: “Was the knife in the accused’s left hand?” This suggests the answer is ‘left hand’.
What is post-event discussion (PED)?
Post-event discussion (PED) occurs when there is more than one witness to an event. Witnesses may discuss what they have seen with co-witnesses or with other people. This may influence the accuracy of each witness’s recall of the event.
What research investigated the effects of leading questions?
Loftus and Palmer (1974) asked participants to estimate the speed of cars using different verbs (e.g., hit, smashed, collided). The verb used influenced speed estimates, with “smashed” producing the highest (40.5 mph) and “contacted” the lowest (31.8 mph).
What research investigated the effects of post-event discussion?
Gabbert et al. (2003) found that 71% of participants who discussed an event with a co-witness recalled aspects they had not seen, compared to 0% in a control group. This shows how PED can distort memory accuracy.
What is one evaluation point for misleading information?
Research into misleading information has useful real-life applications, such as improving police interviews. Loftus (1975) showed leading questions can distort memory, highlighting the need for careful questioning in investigations.
What is another evaluation point for misleading information?
Artificial tasks in studies, such as watching video clips of accidents, lack emotional involvement. This limits the findings’ generalisability to real-life EWT situations, where stress and anxiety may impact memory differently.
What is an evaluation about individual differences in EWT?
Research shows older people are less accurate than younger ones. Anastasi and Rhodes (2006) found those aged 18–25 and 35–45 were more accurate than 55–78-year-olds. However, accuracy improves when identifying people of one’s own age group (own-age bias).
What is a limitation regarding demand characteristics in EWT research?
Participants may guess answers when uncertain to appear helpful, leading to demand characteristics. For example, they might answer “yes” to a question even if unsure, reducing validity of findings in lab studies.
