evaluation

• L&P experimental research method and standardised procedures

  • Strong in terms of reliability
  • Scientific and objective as in a lab under controlled conditions
  • Procedures were consistent - standardised
• L&P experimental research method

  • Weak in terms of external validity
  • Not representative of real life
  • Completed in lab, so not valid view of real accident
  • Not the same emotional response
• Yuille and Cutshall research

  • Interviewed people 4 months after witnessing a real armed robbery
  • Included two leading questions
  • Witnesses gave an accurate recall that matched their earlier reports
• L&P research

  • Problematic in terms of sampling
  • Age and culture bias - US college students, likely non drivers
  • May not relate to some cultures
  • Social desirability
• L&P research


  • Problematic in terms of data
  • Only quantitative data
• Findings from experiment 1, that people are not good at estimating speed

  In line with past research from Marshall (who tested on Air Force personnel), increasing academic credibility (suggesting reliability of results)
• Carmichael's research


  Supports Loftus' study by showing that a verbal label will shape the way a memory of a drawing is stored and consequently recalled
• Consent was valid but not entirely informed (impossible to test experiment aims if fully informed)
• Deception was used but was not harmful. Participants were unaware of leading questions as it would bias the experiment. However, no debrief was given after
• No physical or psychological harm was done, as the clips were taken from a drivers education program
• Criminal justice system

  ewt not 100% reliable therefore no leading questions should be asked in court and should not purely rely on EWT
• misuse

  planted memories or false memories

  EWT could be discarded completely