Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
8 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
Leading Questions |
Response-bias explanation: wording of question doesn't effect eyewitness's memory of event, but influences answer given. Substitution explanation: wording of a question does affect eyewitness's memory, interferes with original memory, distorting accuracy. |
|
|
Key Study 1: Loftus and Palmer (1974) - Leading Questions |
PROCEDURE: 45 participants watched film clips of car accidents and then answered questions about speed e.g. about how fast were the cars going when they hit each other. -5 groups given different verb in critical question: hit, contacted, bumped, collided or smashed. FINDINGS: verb 'contacted' mean estimated speed = 31.8 mph verb 'smashed' mean speed = 4-.5 mph CONCLUSIONS: leading question biased eyewitness recall of an event. |
|
|
Post-event Discussion (PED) |
Memory Contamination: when co-witnesses discuss a crime, they mix (mis)information from other witnesses with their own memories. Memory Conformity: witnesses go along with each other to win social approval as they believe other witnesses are right. |
|
|
Key Study 2: Gabbert et al (2003) - Post-event discussion |
PROCEDURE: paired participants watched video of same crime, but filmed so each participant could see elements in event that others could not. (both participants discussed what they'd seen) FINDINGS: 71% participants mistakenly recalled aspects of event they hadn't seen in video but picked up in post-even discussion. CONCLUSIONS: in control group (no discussion) no errors. |
|
|
A strength is real-life application. |
LOFTUS: claims leading questions can have distorting influence on memory, police need to be careful of question phrasing. THEREFORE, research into EWT can improve legal systems and expert witnesses. |
|
|
A limitation of Loftus&Palmer is use of artificial materials. |
YUILLE & CUTSHALL: found witneses of traumatic real armed robbery had accurate recall after 4 months. THEREFORE, shows using artificial tasks tells little of effect of leading questions on real EWT for real crimes. |
|
|
A limitation is there may be individual differences. |
ANASTASI & RHODES: found older peoples less accurate than younger people giving eyewitness reports. HOWEVER, all age groups more accurate in identifying own age group. THEREFORE, some age groups may be less accurate. |
|
|
A limitation is many EWT research studies lack external validity. |
FOSTER et al: what you remeber in real EWT has big impact in real life, not the same in studies. - real eyewitnesses may apply more effort when trying to recall THEREFORE, EWT accuracy may be greater in real world due to seriousness of role. |
