AO3 - Leading Questions

• A strength of research into the effects of leading questions is that it has practical applications. The principles of the theory that leading questions can influence the accuracy of EWT has led to the development of the cognitive interview, which avoids the use of leading questions and uses techniques such as open questions like “recall everything” to trigger details about the event and increase accuracy of EWT. Therefore, research into the effects of leading questions is an important part of applied psychology because it could lead to more accurate testimonies.
• Discussion: Moreover, the research could have a positive impact on the economy; if witness statements are more accurate this could lead to a quicker conviction of the correct perpetrator, meaning less taxpayers’ money is spent on multiple police interviews or re-trials, and this money could be used elsewhere to benefit society.
• A criticism of the research into the effects of leading questions is that it lacks mundane realism. This is because research uses the artificial task of watching a video of a car crash. Therefore, it is difficult to generalise the findings of the research that leading questions affect accuracy of EWT as other research has found that eyewitnesses of a real event understand the consequences of giving inaccurate information whereas participants watching a video do not. Therefore, lowering the external validity of research investigating the influence of leading questions on the accuracy of EWT.