Factors affecting EWT

• Factors affecting EWT - Misleading information

  Leading questions = Loftus & Palmer, speed estimates effected by critical word e.g. smashed, collided, hit

  Response bias - n change to memory

  Supported by report of seeing broken glass

  Post event discussion = Gabbert et al, co-witness discussion affects memories of events

  Memory contamination - mix (mis)information from others

  Memory conformity - response given for social approval
• Misleading information evaluation

  +real world application insights applied to police interviewing and expert witnesses

  -lab environment enables control but answers in lab studies influenced by desire to be helpful
• Factors affecting EWT - Anxiety

  Negative effect = Johnson & Scott (weapon focus), high anxiety knife condition of to poorer recall

  Positive effect = Yuille & Cutshall (shooting), high anxiety associated with better recall when witnessing real crime
• Anxiety evaluation

  +support for positive effects, most anxious witness at bank robbery had the most accurate recall

  +support for negative effects, in London Dungeons anxiety reduced accurate recall

  -poor recall due to unusualness not anxiety