Research into the influence of misleading information

• AO1


  Assessment Objective 1
• Loftus and Palmer study

  • 45 undergraduate students watched film clips of car accidents
  • Participants filled out a questionnaire about the speed of the cars
  • The wording of the question varied, using different verbs like "smashed," "collided," "bumped," "hit," or "contacted"
  • Participants who read "smashed" gave highest average speed estimate (41 mph)
  • Participants who read "contacted" gave lowest average speed estimate (32 mph)
• This study demonstrates that the wording of a question can distort memory recall and distort the accuracy of eyewitness testimony (EWT)