Loftus + Palmer

Question 1

key theme + area

Answer 1

key theme = memory
area = cognitive psychology

Question 1

background

Answer 1

eyewitness testimony - descriptions provided by individuals who have witnessed an event
- memory of an event - info gained at time + info gained after

Question 2

procedure of experiment 1

Answer 2

• 45 student ppts shown short video clips
• split into 5 groups, 9ppts in each
  all asked “about how fast were the cars going when they …….. each - other”
• each group given different verb; smashed, collided, bumped, hit, contacted
• ppts took part to gain course credit

Question 2

aim

Answer 2

to investigate the effect of information provided to a witness after an event will influence their memory of the event.

Question 3

research method

Answer 3

2 lab experiments, independent measures
IV’s = verb used at the end of the critical question
DV = the estimate of speed or whether the ppt saw glass

Question 4

procedure of experiment 2

Answer 4

• 150 students shown a short film
• split into 3 groups (50 in each)
• one group asked - “how fast were the cars going when they hit each other “
• second group asked “ how fast were the cars going when they smashed each other”
• third group not asked any questions about the speed
• on week later, ppts returned and asked “did you see any broken glass”
• there was no broken glass in the film

Question 5

results of experiment 1

Answer 5

• how the questions were phrased influenced the ppts estimated speed.
• when verb smashed used, ppts estimated that the cars were travelling much faster (40.8mph) than when the verb contacted was used (31.8mph)

Question 5

results of experiment 2

Answer 5

• verb used in the original question influenced whether the ppts thought they had seen broken glass.
• 16 ppts in the smashed condition said they had seen broken glass compared to 7 in the hit condition and 6 in the co0ntrol condition

Question 6

conclusion

Answer 6

wording of questions can alter witnesses memories of events