Pozzulo et al.'s cognitive core study on line-ups Flashcards
Assumptions of the cognitive approach and how they relate to this core study
The psychology that is being investigated
- Eye witness testimony refers to the information provided by an individual based on what they remember from witnessing an event. They may be interviewd by open or closed interviews, even questionnaires. Some say that eyewitnesses may provide false positive results.
- false positive When a person selects something (eg: a person) that is not correct, but the eye witness believes it to be.
The Background
There are real life instances of crimes committed and children are the eyewitnesses. There has been shown to be a qualitative difference in the testimonies of children versus adults accuracy. Children very often would choose someone who was in the line up, even if the culprit was absent, compared to adults. It is assumed that both cognitive and social factors play a role in these results.
The Aims
- To investigate if false positive and correct identification in line ups is caused by cognitive or social factors
- To investigate correct identification and false positive responses during a line up situation in relation to familiarity of the target
The procedures for child
- parents were given a consent form, a demographic form, and a cartoon watching form.
- Researchers came into the schools and invited the children with completed forms to participate.
- Three female researchers and feamle faciliatrors introduced the study as playing computer games and watching videos.
- They were told to pay attention to the videos and some of the pictures.
- Research team engaged doing crafts with the child
- All participants were monitored for signs of distress, and were aware that they could choose to stop participating in the study at any time.
- The first of four videos was shown to the child and after the clip finished , the researcher would ask open ended
- The 2 non specific open ended questions leading with the “instruction for line up indentification”
- this was repeated 3 more times, for each video clip.
- Child thanks with a small gift
Example of “small gift’”
a coloring book
The procedures for adults
- Complete consent form
- Told it was about memory and to pay attention as question would be asked afterwards
- Given a sheet to answer same free reacall questions as children
- All same as children except answers where recorded on a matching sheet
- After video clips adults completed the demographic and cartoon watching form
- Lastly debriefed and thanked for their participation
example of the open ended question given to the child
What did the cartoon charater look like?
The research method used
Laboratory experiment
The number of child participants and where they were from
- 59
- 21 females
- 38 males
- ages 4-7
- from 3 private school classes in eastern ontario
The number of adult participants and where they were from
- 53 adults
- 36 females
- 17 males
- ages 17-30
- From introductory psychology participant pool
The sampling method used
- Children unknown
- Adults were volunteers from participant pool
The experimental design used
- Independent groups ( for children vs adults)
- Repeated measures (for human/cartoon and target absent/present line part)
The control used
- Same instructiond for line up identification
- All experiment wore white lab coats
- all completed response form prior to procedure
- All videos and line-up orders random
Types of questions asked
- Demographic and cartoon watching form
- Open ended questions (free call discriptions)
Data collection method used
Quanitiative and qualitaitve
Quanity would be correct rate for taget absent and reject for target absent
Qualitative was the free recall content of each vido clip
Independent and dependent variables used
IV
age
type of face
type of line up (target preset/absent)
DV
correct ID rate for target present
corrent rejectin rate for target absent
Ethical Issues
- Good- parents gave consent for child patipant and child give age apporpriate informatio. Facilitator built connection with child in the process
- Bad - finding showed children choose beacause of social presures affecting cognitve abilty so child could have felt psychologically stressed
Results in target present line up
Quantitative/qualitative data & how it is represented and interpeted
- children had 23% correct ID rate for human faces
- adults had 66% correct ID rate for human faces
- significantly lower in children compared to adults
results in target absent line up
- Children has 45% correct rejection rate for human faces
- Adults had 70% correct rejction rate for human faces
- children produced significantly lower rejection rates then adults for human faces
Conclusion Drawn
Children are more likely to choose incorrect face in a line-up rater then to reject the line-up comapred to adults. They believe social demand of a situation are to make a selection, rather than cognitive reason such as having an inccurate memory.
Strengths
Methodological issues:
Reserach method, reliabilty,validty,generalibily,& control of variables
- Reliabilty beacuse of standerdized procedure. line up adminstror wore lab coat and same instructions for line up identifiaction
- Internal validy high levels of controls and reaped measures
Weakness
Methodological Issues
Reserach method, reliabilty,validty,generalibily,& control of variables
- ecological validy mundane relaism not an every day task
- reapeated meaures could cause practice, bordom, fatigue effect
Everyday Life
The issues of application of psychology and how it realtes to the study
Used in the legal branch of government. By educating officers about the unique challenges associated with child witnesses, such as susceptibility to suggestion and false memories, they can improve the quality and reliability of eyewitness testimony.
Individual and Situational explanations debate
how it relates to the study
I: The way children process faces and memories for events
S: Being asked to choose from a line up probably from social pressures of questioning
Nature vs. Nurture Debate
how it relates to the study
not applicable
Use of children in psychological
How it realtes to the core study
- children can be heavilt influnces by adults asking question with information and non contain the right answer
- Not be certian child understood question asked as langauge skill had not been measured
