Neisser and Harsch💗

Question 1

Year

Answer 1

1992

Question 2

Aim

Answer 2

Determine whether flashbulb memories are susceptible to distortion.

Question 3

Sample

Answer 3

106 university students in intro to psychology course

Question 4

Procedure

Answer 4

Challenger disaster: Space shuttle exploded on live television, teacher on board. 1986

Within 24 hours of event: Participants given questionnaire of 9 questions about how they found out about the event, such as time, where, and how did you feel

2.5 years later: 44 of original participants given same questionnaire and asked to rate confidence of memory 1-5

Asked if they had filled it out before and only 25% said yes

A few months later, semi structured interviews conducted, and given cues prompting the original memories

Then shown their original questionnaires in their own handwriting

Question 5

Results and conclusion

Answer 5

Mean accuracy: 2.95/7
Mean confidence: 4.17/5

Flashbulb memories are susceptible to distortion.

Confidence has nothing to do with accuracy of memories