Loftus and Palmer

• Which area does L&P belong to?

  Cognitive area
• What is the key theme for L&P?

  memory
• Background:

  • our memories are not accurate and this affects eyewitness testimonies.
  • leading questions are questions phrased in a way that leads a person to give a particular answer.
• Aim:

  • experiment 1: to investigate the accuracy of memory and in particular, the effect of leading questions on what people remember.
• Sample:

  • 45 American college students divided into 5 groups of 9.
  • each group was exposed to one level of the IV.
• Results:

   

  Verb Mean speed estimate(mph)

  Smashed 40.5

  Collided 39.3

  Bumped 38.1

  Hit 34.0

  Contacted 31.8
• Conclusion:

  The way a question is asked can influence the answer given.