Memory: Key Studies

Question 1

Loftus and Palmer: Procedure

Answer 1

Experiment 1:
- 45 students shown 7 films of different traffic incidents
- given questionnaire to describe
- critical q: how fast were cars going?
- 1 group given hit, other 4 given smashed, collided, bumped or contacted
Experiment 2:
- new set of ps in 3 groups watched car crash + asked about speed
- one week later asked about more qs, critical q about glass
- no broken glass in video

Question 2

Loftus and Palmer: Findings

Answer 2

Experiment 1:
- smashed gave highest mean speed estimate - 40.8
- contacted gave lowest - 31.8
Experiment 2:
- 32% of smashed said yes to glass
- 14% of hit said yes to glass

Question 3

Johnson and Scott: Procedure

Answer 3

• ps in waiting roomheard argument in next room
• man run through room with pen covered in grease or knife covered in blood
• asked to identify man

Question 4

Johnson and Scott: Findings

Answer 4

• mean accuracy 43% in pen condition
• 33% in knife condition