Factors affecting Eye Witness Testimony - Anxiety

Question 1

What is anxiety

Answer 1

Unpleasant emotional state

Fear that something bad will happen

Question 2

What are the 2 arguments about the effect of anxiety on EWT

Answer 2

High levels of anxiety increase EWT

High levels of anxiety decrease EWT

Question 3

Outline Johnson and Scotts study

Answer 3

Investigates effect of anxiety on EWT
Fake study/P’s in waiting room(study already started)
Weapon condition 1 - Argument - Loud noise - Man with prop knife
No weapon condition - Argument - Man with pen
P’s asked to identify man out of 50 photos

P’s in high anxiety were less accurate than those with low anxiety

Anxiety decreases EWT accuracy

Question 4

Outline Yullie and Cutshall’s study

Answer 4

Investigates anxiety effect on EWT
Study on real life Canada shooting
13 witnesses
Interview 4-5 months after shooting compared to original police interviews
Accuracy determined by details in both interviews
Witnesses rated how they felt at the time

Little change in accuracy after 5 months
P’s that had high anxiety were more accurate

Anxiety positively affects EWT

Question 5

What is the Yerkes and Dodson Effect

Answer 5

Low levels of anxiety = Poor EWT
Average levels of anxiety = Good EWT
High levels of anxiety = Poor EWT

Question 6

Evaluate effect of anxiety on EWT

Answer 6

Good methodology - Johnson and Scott - lab experiment
Lack of control - Yullie and Cutshall - extraneous variables
Ethical issues - Johnson and Scott - Deception
Nomothetic vs ideographic