valentine and mesout 2009

Question 1

aim

Answer 1

to test the hypotheis that high arousal - levels pf stress can reduce an EW ability to recall info and identify a perpetrator

Question 2

procedure

Answer 2

• 56 participants; 29 females, 27 males
• visitors to the London dungeon were offered a reduction in price to complete some questionnaires after the visit and to wear a heart rate monitor.
• an actor dressed up in a dark robe and wore pale makeup was known as scary person.
• they would step out in front of people and prevent them from passing him
• informed consent was obtained after tour and given right to withdraw at any point
• completed questions that assessed state of anxiety. they were then asked more questions about trait anxiety.
• a seperate questionnaire asked for free recall of a description of the scary person and cued recall asking specific details
• finally they were asked to indetify scary person from a 9 photo line up and rate their confidence percentage. they were told they may or may not be in line up.

Question 3

results

Answer 3

mean state anxiety was 49
females higher
no difference in trait anxiety
people who experienced lower state anxiety recalled more correct info about person.

Question 4

conclusion

Answer 4

EW identification is impaired under conditions of high anxiety.
memory is negatively affected by increased psiological arousal which leads to less reliable eye witness accounts.

Question 5

generalisability

Answer 5

:) the study used 56 people from the general public with quite a large age range and using males and females
ca= the participants had all chosen to attend a scary place. therefore they may have a preference for that entertainment and may be affected by scary events in a diff way from people who don’t like that. this limits the generalisability of the findings to the wider pop as the reactions of the participants may be influenced by their preference. reactions might not be same

Question 6

ethics

Answer 6

• informed consent and right to withdraw