Factors affecting eye witness testimony - misleading information

Question 1

What is Eye Witness Testimony

Answer 1

Ability to recall events e.g. crimes/crashes

Question 2

What is EWT accuracy affected by

Answer 2

Leading questions and post event discussion

Question 3

Outline part 1 of Loftus and Palmers study

Answer 3

Investigates how leading questions affects EWT
45 American students divided into 5 groups
Video of car crash shown/question asked after
Verb in question was manipulated - smahed,collided,hit,bumped,contacted

Smashed verb had higher speed reports(41mph) than contacted(32)

Leading questions affect EWT

Question 4

Outline part 2 of Loftus and Palmers study

Answer 4

Same aim
150 American students
3 groups
Car crash video shown/questionnaire given after about car speed
Control group not given questionnaire
P’s asked if they saw broken glass in the video 1 week later

32% who heard smashed before reported seeing glass
12% of control group reported seeing glass

Leading questions influence EWT

Question 5

What is post event discussion

Answer 5

Witnesses discuss event, distorting info

Question 6

Outline Gabberts study

Answer 6

Investigates effect of post event discussion on EWT
60 students/60 adults
Video of girl stealing money (different perspectives shown)
P’s tested individually then in groups
Questionnaire given after

71% of witnesses in group condition reported seeing theft when they didnt
60% said she was guilty

Post event discussion negatively affects EWT

Question 7

Evaluate effect of misleading info on EWT

Answer 7

Real world application - Court system

Lab experiment - Loftus and Palmer - counter - artificial

Good methodology - Gabberts study used students+adults - high population validity

Nomothetic vs ideographic