Mileading Information- Post-event Discussion

Question 1

What is post-event discussion?

Answer 1

A witness to a crime discusses it with another witness/someone else.

Question 2

What is a problem with post-event discussion?

Answer 2

EWT may become contaminated/ accuracy of recall.

Question 3

What is the aim of Gabbert et al (2003)?

Answer 3

To investigate the effect of post-event discussion on the accuracy of EWT/ effect in eyewitnesses.

Question 4

What was the sample used in Gabbert et al (2003) experiment?

Answer 4

60 students from the University of Aberdeen.
60 adults from a local community.

Question 5

What was the experimental design for participants in Gabbert et al (2003) experiment?

Answer 5

Individually in a control group or in pairs in the co-witness group.

Question 6

How were participants in the control group tested in Gabbert et al (2003) experiment?

Answer 6

Watched a video of a girl stealing money from a wallet.

Question 7

How were participants in the co-witness group tested in Gabbert et a, (2003) experiment?

Answer 7

Told they watched the same video as control group but saw a different perspective of the girl stealing the money.

Question 8

What was the difference between the videos shown of the girl stealing money in Gabbert et al (2003) study?

Answer 8

Only one group had witnessed the girl stealing the money.

Question 9

What did the co-witness do after they watched the video in Gabbert et al (2003) experiment?

Answer 9

They discussed the crime together.

Question 10

What did all the participants do after they watched or discussed the video in Gabbert et al (2003) experiment?

Answer 10

A questionnaire testing their memory of the event

Question 11

What was an example of a question used in the questionnaire in Gabbert et al (2003) experiment?

Answer 11

What were they wearing?
Whether or not they thought the person stole the money?

Question 12

What were the results of the co-witness group in Gabbert et al (2003) experiment?

Answer 12

71% recalled information they had not seen.
60% said the girl was guilty. They had not seen her commit the crime

Question 13

What were the results of the control group used in Gabbert et al (20p3) experiment?

Answer 13

6.67% of people gave a guilty verdict when there was no discussion.
Used to check that it was not difficult to see the person had/hadn’t stole.

Question 14

What was the conclusion of Gabbert et al (2003) experiment?

Answer 14

Highlight the issue of conformity discussion and powerful effect this can have on accuracy of EWT.

Question 15

What is the possibility that each time an eyewitness is interviewed what could happen affecting accuracy?

Answer 15

A comment from an interviewer incorporated into recollection of events, or ask leading questions which alters the individuals memory. Reduced accuracy as they remember false info.

Question 16

One strength of Gabbert’s study is that it took place in a highly controlled laboratory setting. What evidence is there to support this?

Answer 16

Used a control group to highlight significant impact of post-event discussion to ensure it wasn’t challenging to see the theft.

Question 17

One strength of Gabbert’s study is that it took place in a highly controlled laboratory setting. What explanation is there to support this?

Answer 17

High internal validity.
We can be sure it accurately measures the effects of post-event discussion on EWT.

Question 18

Although Gabbert’s results provide an insight into the effect of post-event discussion on the accuracy of EWT we are unable to conclude why the distortion occurs. What evidence is there to support this claim?

Answer 18

Distortions could occur due to conformity and social pressures from co-witness.
Poor memory when people assimilate new Info of the event. Hard to distinguish between what they saw and heard.

Question 19

Although Gabbert’s results provide an insight into the effect of post-event discussion on the accuracy of EWT we are unable to conclude why the distortion occurs. What explanation is there to support this claim?

Answer 19

Important that before we construct a theory from Gabbert study psychologists should conduct further research into reasons behind inaccurate recall.

Question 20

One issue with Gabbert’s study is that she only used one type of actress in the post-event discussion video clips. What evidence is there to support this claim?

Answer 20

Gabbert used a white female who was in their 40s. Not the stereotypical profile of a thief and therefore may have affected findings.

Question 21

One issue with Gabbert’s study is that she only used one type of actress in the post-event discussion video clips. What explanation is there to support this claim?

Answer 21

Reduce the effectiveness of the study as our schema of a criminal event doesn’t match the profile.
May find accuracy of Gabbert’s participants reduced as it doesn’t fit their schema.
Affect external validity.
Hard to generalise findings which involve male crimes.
EWT may be less accurate in this situation.

Question 22

Research into post-event discussion has many practical application. What evidence is there to support this?

Answer 22

Police officers should advise witnesses not to discuss the case with any other co-witness as strive to interview them asap. To prevent testimony being distorted by discussion with others.

Question 23

Research into post-event discussion has many practical application. What explanation is there to support this?

Answer 23

Demonstrates the value of research findings and can used in many ways to improve the accuracy of testimonies