Memory L7: Factors affecting the accuracy of EWT

• Who conducted research on leading questions in 1974?

  Loftus and Palmer
• What was the procedure in Loftus and Palmer's 1974 study?

  Students watched car accident clips and answered questions
• What question did Loftus and Palmer ask participants about the car accidents?

  About how fast were the cars going?
• What were the different verbs used in Loftus and Palmer's study?

  • Hit
  • Contacted
  • Bumped
  • Collided
  • Smashed
• What was the mean estimated speed for the 'Contacted' group?

  31.8 mph
• What was the mean estimated speed for the 'Smashed' group?

  40.5 mph
• What does the substitution explanation propose?

  The wording of a leading question alters memory
• What did participants who heard 'smashed' report more often?

  Seeing broken glass
• Who conducted research on post-event discussion in 2003?

  Gabbert et al
• What was the procedure in Gabbert et al's study?

  Participants watched a video and discussed it
• What percentage of participants recalled aspects they did not see in Gabbert et al's study?

  71%
• What was the percentage of incorrect recall in the control group of Gabbert et al's study?

  0%
• What does memory contamination refer to?

  Altered memories due to co-witness discussions
• What is memory conformity?

  Witnesses align their memories for social approval
• What is a strength of research into misleading information?

  • Important applications in criminal justice
  • Helps improve legal system reliability
  • Protects innocent people from wrongful convictions
• What did Loftus believe about leading questions?

  They distort memory
• What is a counterpoint to the applications of EWT?

  Research conditions differ from real events
• What did Foster et al point out about eyewitness memory?

  Real-world consequences affect motivation to be accurate
• What does the substitution explanation not account for?

  Accuracy of EWT for some event aspects
• What did Sutherland and Hayne find regarding recall accuracy?

  More accurate for central details than peripheral ones
• What does the evidence from Skagerberg and Wright challenge?

  The memory conformity explanation
• What did participants report after discussing different versions of film clips in Skagerberg and Wright's study?

  A blend of the two versions
• What are the key findings from Loftus and Palmer's study?

  • Leading questions bias recall
  • Different verbs influence speed estimates
  • 'Smashed' led to higher speed estimates
• What are the key findings from Gabbert et al's study?

  • Memory conformity occurs in discussions
  • 71% recalled false details after discussion
  • Control group had 0% false recall
• What are the implications of misleading information research?

  • Important for legal system applications
  • Helps protect against wrongful convictions
  • Highlights limitations of eyewitness testimony