Post-event Discussion

• Gabbert et al (2003) investigated the effect of post-event discussion on the accuracy of eyewitness testimony.
• In Gabbert et al (2003) participants watched a video of a girl stealing money from a wallet. They were either tested individually (control group) or in pairs (co-witness group).
• In Gabbert et al (2003) participants in the co-witness group discussed the crime together.
• In Gabbert et al (2003) 71% of the witnesses in the co-witness group recalled information they had not actually seen.
• In Gabbert et al (2003) 60% of the witnesses in the co-witness group said that the girl was guilty, despite not seeing her commit a crime.
• Post-event discussion can have a powerful effect on the accuracy of eyewitness testimony.
• In Gabbert et al (2003) the control group with no discussion gave 0% of mistaken information.
• One reason for the effects of post-event discussion could be conformity, especially in group situations.
• Memory contamination may affect EWT following post-event discussion.