Loftus and Pickrell’s study

• What was the aim of this study?

  To see if false memories could be created in ppts through suggestion.
• What was the method of this study?

  Four stories about childhood events were read where three were true and one was false (shopping mall)
• What were the results of this study?

  6/24 (25%) of ppts recalled false story fully or partially.
• What can be concluded from this study?

  Imagining an event can implant a false memory in a person, reducing accuracy of memory.
• What is a positive evaluation of this study?

  Real world application.

  Research has implications for eyewitness testimony as police questioning could accidentally implant false memories
• What is a negative evaluation of this study?

  Ethical issues.

  Ppts may be left with implanted false memories which lingered after the study, causing distress.