eyewitness testimony

• eyewitness testimony


  the ability of people to remember details of events sch as accidents and crimes, accuracy can be effected by anxiety and misleading information
• misleading information


  incorrect information given to the witness usually after the event, such as leading questions or post event discussion
• leading questions


  a question that, due to its phrasing, suggests a certain answer
• post-event discussion


  when there is more than one witness and they discuss the events, potentially influencing each other
• research on leading questions

  • Loftus and Palmer 1974
  • 45 ps watched a clip of a car accident
  • 5 groups, each given a different verb in their question
  • mean speed for contacted 31.8 , for smashed 40.5
  • showed the leading question biased the witnesses recollection
• leading q research application

  • important practical use in the justice system
  • consequences of inaccurate EWT serious
  • HOWEVER
  • artificial setting and information - less pressure to be correct
  • foster 1994 eyewitnesses remembers important details in real scenarios