Loftus and Palmer (1974)

• Aim:

  • To investigate how information supplied after an event influences a witness's memory for that event.
  • The study consists of two laboratory experiments.
  • Both use the independent measures design.
• Study 1- Participants:

  • 45 students from the Uni of Washington
• Study 1- Procedure:

  • 45 students shown 7 short videos of cars colliding.
  • Split into 5 groups, 9 ppt in each.
  • All were asked 'About how fast were the cars going when they ------ each other'
  • Each group were given a different verb to fill in the blank. These verbs were 'smashed, collided, bumped, hit or contacted' Therefore the independent variable was the verb used.
  • The dependent variable was the estimate of speed given by the ppt.
• Study 1- controls:

  • All ps of similar age
  • All ps asked the same Q apart from changes in the critical question.
  • All ps watched same clip.
  • All ps tested in the same location (a lab)
  • The critical Q was hidden in amongst other Qs about the collision to reduce demand characteristic's.
• Study 1- Variables

  • IV= the wording o the critical question
  • DV= The estimate of how fast were the cars going