Eye Witness Testimony

• Who was freed after being wrongfully imprisoned for two decades?

  A man who was wrongfully convicted
• How long did the man spend in prison for the murder of Marcus Boyd?

  Half of his life
• At what age was the man imprisoned?

  14 years old
• What is an eyewitness?

  An eyewitness is someone who has seen something happen, often in relation to a crime.
• What factor can affect the accuracy of eyewitness testimony?

  Misleading information
• What are the two parts under the heading of misleading information?

  Leading questions and post-event discussion
• What are leading questions?

  Questions that prompt or encourage a desired answer from the person asking.
• Who is Elizabeth Loftus?

  A psychologist known for her research on eyewitness testimony.
• What did Loftus and Palmer's 1974 study investigate?

  The impact of language used in questions on memory.
• In Loftus and Palmer's first experiment, what was the critical question asked about?

  How fast were the cars going when they bumped into each other?
• How did the wording of the question affect participants' speed estimates?

  Using the verb "smashed" led to higher speed estimates than other verbs.
• What was the outcome of Loftus and Palmer's second experiment regarding broken glass?

  Participants were more likely to report seeing broken glass when asked about "smashed" cars.
• What is the cognitive interview technique?

  • Developed for interviewing eyewitnesses
  • Avoids leading questions
  • Encourages witnesses to report everything
  • Uses open-ended questions
• What did research by Conkey et al. in 1999 find about the cognitive interview?

  The cognitive interview provided more accurate information than standard interviews.
• What is post-event discussion?

  When witnesses discuss the details of a crime after it has occurred.
• What did Fiona Gabbert's 2003 study demonstrate about post-event discussion?

  It can lead to inaccurate recall of a crime.
• What percentage of witnesses in Gabbert's study reported information from another witness?

  71 percent
• What was the conclusion of Gabbert's study regarding eyewitness testimony?

  Post-event discussion can influence recall and lead to misinformation.
• What are the strengths of the research conducted on misleading information?

  • Conducted in highly controlled experimental settings
  • Enables careful control of extraneous variables
  • Allows for replication of studies
• What are the weaknesses of the research conducted on misleading information?

  • Artificial studies lacking real-life context
  • Missing the anxiety and seriousness of real events
  • Issues with ecological validity
• What did research by Foster et al. in 1994 find about eyewitness accuracy?

  Eyewitnesses were more accurate when they believed the video was of a real robbery.
• What is a criticism of Loftus and Palmer's sample in their research?

  The sample consisted of 45 American University students, which is not representative of the general population.
• How might a more experienced driver estimate speed differently than a student in Loftus and Palmer's study?

  A more experienced driver may provide a more accurate estimate based on their driving experience.
• What is the Innocence Project?

  • A project that works to exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals
  • Focuses on cases where DNA evidence can prove innocence
  • Raises awareness about wrongful convictions
• What is another factor that can affect the accuracy of eyewitness testimony besides misleading information?

  Anxiety, including weapons focus.
• What is the experience of being an eyewitness to a crime described as?

  It is not a comfy, nice, relaxing experience.
• What physiological response occurs when someone witnesses a crime?

  The fight or flight response kicks in, leading to heightened alertness.
• How does stress and anxiety affect eyewitness memory recall?

  It can negatively impact the ability to recall details.
• What is an eyewitness?

  An eyewitness is someone who has seen something happen, often related to a crime.
• What are some factors that can affect the accuracy of eyewitness testimony?

  Misleading information, leading questions, and post-event discussion.
• What is weapons focus?

  It refers to the concentration of a witness's attention on a weapon, reducing their ability to remember other details.
• In Johnson and Scott's 1976 study, what were the two conditions participants experienced?

  Condition one involved a pen, and condition two involved a knife.
• What was the finding regarding recall accuracy in Johnson and Scott's study?

  49% recalled the man in the low anxiety condition, while only 33% recalled in the high anxiety condition.
• Why was recall poor in the high anxiety condition of Johnson and Scott's study?

  Participants' attention was focused on the weapon, reducing their ability to remember peripheral details.
• What ethical concerns were raised about Johnson and Scott's study?

  The study caused psychological harm and lacked informed consent.
• What did research by Yuille and Cutshall in 1986 find about anxiety and memory recall?

  They found that anxiety can have a positive impact on memory recall.
• What event did Yuille and Cutshall study in their research?

  A traumatic armed robbery in a gun shop.
• What was the accuracy of the witnesses who were most distressed during the Yuille and Cutshall study?

  Their accuracy was 93% compared to 75% for other witnesses.
• What did Christensen and Hubenet's 1993 research find regarding emotional reactions and memory recall?

  They found no evidence that high arousal negatively impacted recall in bank robberies.
• What is a strength of the studies by Yuille and Cutshall and Christensen and Hubenet?

  They were real-life studies, providing more ecologically valid results.