W3 Eyewitness identification Flashcards
What factors can influence the reliability of eyewitness identification?
Memory factors (encoding and storage conditions), offender variables, and lineup characteristics.
What is the primary concern regarding eyewitness identification in forensic psychology?
It focuses on the reliability and informational value of IDs, rather than the accuracy of individual IDs.
What are the key memory factors affecting eyewitness identification during encoding?
Viewing conditions (duration, distance), divided attention, and weapon focus.
How does the length of the retention interval affect memory?
Memory fades over time; suggestibility increases, impacting ID accuracy.
What did Sauer et al. (2010) find regarding ID accuracy over time?
Accuracy dropped from 62% (immediate) to 47% (after ~3 weeks).
How does changed appearance of an offender impact ID accuracy?
Natural changes over time can lead to more incorrect rejections and failures to identify the culprit.
What is the effect of distinctiveness on eyewitness identification?
Distinctiveness aids in both encoding and retrieval, reducing confusion during ID.
What role does the lineup play in eyewitness identification?
It serves as a recognition memory test, where witnesses match lineup members to their memory.
How do characteristics of a lineup influence eyewitness decision-making?
The quality of the eyewitness memory and lineup/task characteristics both impact the matching process.
What are some common methodological approaches in eyewitness identification studies?
Simulated crimes, manipulated exposure conditions, various lineup presentations, and archival studies.
What are some methodological issues in eyewitness identification research?
Interactions between multiple variables, generalizability of findings, and statistical power considerations.
Why is it essential to assess the quality of eyewitness memory?
It directly influences the reliability and accuracy of the identification process.
