EWT and Misleading Information

• What is Eyewitness Testimony (EWT)?

  Statement given by a witness.
• What does EWT typically describe?

  Crime scene and details of the perpetrator.
• What are some factors affecting EWT?

  Leading questions, post-event discussion, weapon focus, anxiety.
• What was the aim of Loftus & Palmer's (1974) study?

  Investigated effect of leading questions on EWT.
• What procedure did Loftus & Palmer use in their study?

  Participants watched car accident clips.
• What critical question was asked in Loftus & Palmer's study?

  How fast were the cars going when they [verb] each other?
• What verbs were used in Loftus & Palmer's study?

  Smashed, collided, bumped, hit, contacted.
• How did the verbs affect speed estimates in Loftus & Palmer's study?

  Verbs altered speed estimates significantly.
• What was the speed estimate for "smashed" in Loftus & Palmer's findings?

  40.8 mph.
• What was the speed estimate for "contacted" in Loftus & Palmer's findings?

  31.8 mph.
• What conclusion was drawn from Loftus & Palmer's study?

  Wording of questions affects recall.
• What are the two ways leading questions affect EWT?

  Response bias and memory alteration.
• What was the focus of Fiona Gabbert's (2003) research?

  Post-event discussion (PED).
• What procedure did Gabbert use in her study?

  Pairs watched the same crime from different angles.
• What was a key finding from Gabbert's study?

  71% recalled details they didn’t see.
• What was the conclusion of Gabbert's study?

  PED reduces reliability of EWT due to memory conformity.
• What are the strengths of research into EWT?

  • Practical applications to improve police interviews.
  • Evidence-supported findings from Loftus studies.
• What are the limitations of research into EWT?

  • Artificial tasks lack emotional impact.
  • Individual differences affect reliability, especially in older adults.
• What is one practical application of EWT research?

  Improve police interviews.
• How do Loftus studies support EWT research?

  They show consistent effects of misleading information.
• Why are artificial tasks a limitation in EWT research?

  They lack emotional impact of real events.
• How do individual differences affect EWT reliability?

  Older adults’ EWT is less reliable.
• Who conducted a study on older adults' EWT reliability?

  Anastasi & Rhodes.