misleading information Flashcards
What is misleading information in eyewitness testimony?
It is when an eyewitness is exposed to incorrect information before recalling an event.
What is a leading question?
A question that prompts or encourages a specific answer.
What was the aim of Loftus and Palmer’s study?
To investigate whether wording of a question affects eyewitness recall of an event.
How many participants were in Loftus and Palmer’s study?
45 American students.
What was the critical question in Loftus and Palmer’s study?
‘How fast were the cars going when they (verb) each other?’
What effect did more intense verbs (e.g., ‘smashed’) have in Loftus and Palmer’s study?
Participants estimated higher speeds and were more likely to recall seeing broken glass.
What was the main finding of Loftus and Palmer’s second experiment?
Participants who heard ‘smashed’ were more likely to report seeing broken glass, even though none was present.
What is one practical application of research into misleading information?
It led to the development of the cognitive interview, which improves accuracy in police interviews.
How does the cognitive interview reduce the effect of misleading information?
It encourages witnesses to ‘report everything’ instead of using leading questions.
What did Kohnken find about the cognitive interview?
It provided more accurate recall than the standard police interview.
What is post-event discussion?
When witnesses discuss details of a crime after it has occurred.
What was the aim of Gabbert et al.’s study?
To investigate the effects of post-event discussion on eyewitness recall.
What did Gabbert’s study involve?
Participants watched different video clips of the same event and then discussed what they saw.
What percentage of participants in the co-witness condition recalled details they could not have seen?
0.71
What are the positive effects of post-event discussion?
It can enhance memory accuracy by reinforcing recall, providing retrieval cues, and reducing stress.
What is one limitation of Loftus and Palmer’s study?
It used artificial video recordings, which lack the emotional impact of real-life events.
What did Foster find about real-life eyewitnesses?
They were more accurate when they believed their testimony could influence a trial.
What is one sampling issue in Loftus and Palmer’s study?
It only used American university students, who may not be representative of all eyewitnesses.
Why might experienced drivers be less affected by misleading information?
They may be better at estimating vehicle speed and identifying misleading questions.
Why might older adults be more affected by misleading information?
They may be more prone to memory distortion than younger individuals.
