Eye witness testimony

• What is the term used for the ability of people to remember the details of events they have observed?

  Eyewitness testimony (EWT)
• What factors can affect the accuracy of eyewitness testimony?

  Misleading information and anxiety
• What is misleading information in the context of eyewitness testimony?

  Incorrect information given to an eyewitness after the event
• What are leading questions?

  Questions that suggest a certain answer due to their phrasing
• What is post-event discussion (PED)?


  Discussion between witnesses about what they have seen after an event
• How can post-event discussion influence eyewitness testimony?

  It may alter the accuracy of each witness's recall of the event
• What are the key findings from Loftus and Palmer's (1974) study on leading questions?

  • Participants watched clips of car accidents.
  • They were asked how fast the cars were going using different verbs.
  • The verb "smashed" led to a higher speed estimate (40.5 mph) than "contacted" (31.8 mph).
• What does the response-bias explanation suggest about leading questions?

  It suggests that the wording influences how participants decide to answer, not their actual memories
• What is the substitution explanation in the context of leading questions?

  It proposes that the wording of a leading question changes the participant's memory of the event
• What were the findings of Gabbert et al. (2003) regarding post-event discussion?

  • 71% of participants recalled aspects they did not see but discussed.
  • The control group with no discussion had 0% incorrect recall.
  • This indicates memory conformity due to discussion.
• What is memory contamination in the context of post-event discussion?

  It refers to the alteration of eyewitness testimonies due to combining information from other witnesses
• What is memory conformity as explained by Gabbert et al.?

  It is when witnesses go along with each other to gain social approval or because they believe others are correct
• What is a limitation of eyewitness testimony in court according to psychological research?

  Witnesses may believe they are telling the truth, but their memories can be distorted
• What are the practical applications of research into misleading information in the criminal justice system?

  • Important for police questioning techniques.
  • Helps protect innocent people from wrongful convictions.
  • Psychologists can explain the limits of EWT to juries.
• What is a counterpoint to the practical applications of EWT research?

  Lab studies may not reflect real-life experiences of witnessing events
• What did Sutherland and Hayne (2001) find regarding the accuracy of EWT?

  Participants' recall was more accurate for central details than peripheral ones
• What did Skagerberg and Wright (2008) demonstrate about post-event discussion?

  It can distort memory through contamination rather than just conformity
• What are demand characteristics in the context of lab studies on EWT?

  Participants may guess answers to avoid disappointing researchers
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of research into misleading information and EWT?

  Strengths:

  • Controlled variables in lab studies.
  • Important implications for the criminal justice system.

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Lab settings may not reflect real-life situations.
  • Demand characteristics may affect participant responses.