Eye witness testimony

• What is the significance of eyewitness testimony (EWT) in criminal trials?

  EWT is often a key piece of evidence used to convict someone.
• What has psychological research revealed about EWT?

  EWT can be unreliable under certain conditions.
• How can leading questions affect EWT?

  Leading questions may lead to unreliable EWT and potentially convict an innocent person.
• What is a leading question?

  A leading question suggests or leads to a desired response due to its wording.
• How can leading questions prompt incorrect recall?

  They can prompt the eyewitness to recall events incorrectly.
• What is response bias in the context of leading questions?

  Response bias occurs when the eyewitness answers in a way they think they should, rather than accurately.
• What does the substitution explanation propose regarding leading questions?

  It proposes that a leading question changes a person's memory by adding details that were not present.
• What was the focus of Loftus and Palmer's (1974) research?

  The strength of the verb used in critical questions affecting speed estimates.
• How did the verb 'smashed' affect participants in Loftus and Palmer's study?

  'Smashed' elicited higher speed estimates because it sounds faster.
• What did Yuille and Cutshall (1986) find regarding eyewitnesses of a shooting?

  Participants were not misled by false information and leading questions.
• How can Yuille and Cutshall's (1986) study be used in relation to EWT and anxiety?

  It can be used to answer questions on EWT and anxiety as it shows high accuracy in recall under stress.
• What is a limitation of Loftus and Palmer's (1974) study?


  Watching film clips of car crashes is not like witnessing a real accident.
• Why does Yuille and Cutshall's (1986) study have high validity?

  Participants were recalling something they had actually witnessed.
• What physiological effects might a witness experience after witnessing a crime?

  Increased heart rate, sweating, dilated pupils, and an adrenaline surge.
• What psychological effects may occur after witnessing a crime?

  Heightened emotions such as fear, excitement, shock, and distress.
• How can heightened physiological arousal affect EWT?

  It can enhance EWT by increasing attention to detail.
• What is the fight or flight (FoF) response?

  It is a physiological response that prepares the body to either run away or confront danger.
• What did Yuille & Cutshall (1986) find about the accuracy of EWs' recall?

  EWs scored highly on the accuracy of their recall, deviating little from their original accounts.
• How did stress levels affect recall accuracy in Yuille & Cutshall's study?

  EWs who reported high stress were more accurate in their recall than those with lower stress levels.
• What is the weapon focus effect (WFE)?

  WFE is when witnesses focus on the weapon rather than the details of the criminal.
• What was the aim of Loftus et al. (1987) study?

  To investigate the weapon focus effect using a lab experiment.
• How were participants allocated in Loftus et al.'s (1987) study?

  Participants were randomly allocated to one of two conditions.
• What were the two conditions in Loftus et al.'s (1987) study?

  One condition involved a gun, and the other involved a cheque.
• What were the results of Loftus et al.'s (1987) study regarding identification accuracy?

  39% of participants in the control condition identified the person correctly, while only 11% in the experimental condition did.
• What did both groups report in Loftus et al.'s (1987) study regarding their confidence?

  Both groups reported equal levels of confidence in their identification.
• What is a limitation of Loftus et al.'s (1987) study regarding the FoF response?

  Looking at slides of a person holding a weapon is unlikely to trigger the FoF response.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of Yuille & Cutshall's (1986) study?

  Strengths:

  • High ecological validity due to real-life eyewitnesses.

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Very small sample size limits generalizability.
  • One-off event makes replication difficult.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of Loftus et al.'s (1987) study?

  Strengths:

  • Good reliability as findings were replicated with another sample.

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Low mundane realism as slides may not trigger the FoF response.