Misleading information

• What is eyewitness testimony?

  Evidence given by someone who witnessed a crime
• Why do psychologists investigate eyewitness reports?

  To ensure evidence is reliable and accurate
• What factors can affect the accuracy of eyewitness reports?

  Misleading information and anxiety
• What are the types of misleading information affecting eyewitness testimony?

  • Leading questions
  • Post-event discussion
• What was the aim of Loftus & Palmer's Experiment 1?

  To investigate leading questions' effect on accuracy
• How many American students participated in Loftus & Palmer's Experiment 1?

  45 American students
• What method did Loftus & Palmer use in Experiment 1?

  Independent measures design with video viewing
• What was manipulated in Loftus & Palmer's Experiment 1?

  The verb used in the speed question
• What average speed did participants report when asked about 'smashed'?

  40.5 mph
• What average speed did participants report when asked about 'contacted'?

  31.8 mph
• What conclusion did Loftus & Palmer draw from Experiment 1?

  Leading questions affect eyewitness accuracy
• What was the aim of Loftus & Palmer's Experiment 2?

  To investigate further effects of leading questions
• How many American students participated in Loftus & Palmer's Experiment 2?

  150 American students
• What was the critical question in Loftus & Palmer's Experiment 2?

  Did you see any broken glass?
• What percentage of participants who heard 'smashed' reported seeing broken glass?

  32%
• What percentage of participants who heard 'hit' reported seeing broken glass?

  14%
• What conclusion did Loftus & Palmer draw from Experiment 2?

  Leading questions distort memory of events
• What are the weaknesses of Loftus & Palmer's research?

  • Questionable ecological validity
  • Lacks population validity
• Why does Loftus & Palmer's research have questionable ecological validity?

  Participants watched a video, not real events
• What is a limitation regarding the population in Loftus & Palmer's study?

  Participants were mostly inexperienced drivers
• What advantage does Loftus & Palmer's research have?

  High degree of control in a laboratory setting
• What is post-event discussion?

  Discussion among witnesses after an event
• What was the aim of Gabbert et al.'s study?

  To investigate post-event discussion effects
• What was the sample size in Gabbert et al.'s study?

  120 participants (60 students, 60 older adults)
• What did participants in the co-witness group do?

  Discussed the crime after watching the video
• What percentage of co-witness participants recalled false information?

  71%
• What conclusion did Gabbert et al. draw from their study?

  Post-event discussion affects eyewitness accuracy
• What are the weaknesses of Gabbert et al.'s research?

  • Questionable ecological validity
  • Cannot conclude why distortion occurs
• Why does Gabbert et al.'s research have questionable ecological validity?

  Participants knew they were in an experiment
• What did Gabbert et al. find regarding population validity?

  Little difference between younger and older adults
• What are the possible reasons for distortion in eyewitness testimony according to Gabbert et al.?

  Poor memory or social pressure from co-witnesses