Loftus & Palmer

Question 0

Method & design

Answer 0

. Lab experiment

. Independent measures design

Question 1

Background & aim

Answer 1

. Memory - multi store model (sensory, short term memory, long term memory)
. Factors affecting memory; stereotypes, motivation and interference
. Interference can affect memories we already have, info received after the event can affect memory of an event e.g. Leading questions
. Reliance in court on eye witness accounts - reliable???

Question 2

Procedure 1

Answer 2

. 45 students, tested in groups of different sizes
. 7 films of traffic accidents were shown in random order to each group
. After each film, students gave a general account about what they had just seen, and then answer more specific questions about accident
. Critical question “ how fast were the cars going when they hit each other?”
. This acted as IV, manipulated to; smashed, collided, bumped, contacted and hit

Question 3

Results 1

Answer 3

. Speed estimates; smashed 40.5, collided 39.3, bumped 38.1, hit 34.0, contacted 31.8
. Estimation of speed after watching collision; RS 20, ES 37.7. RS 30, ES 36.2. RS 40, ES 39.7. RS 40, ES 36.1

. Possible explanations:

 - distortion of memory 
 - response bias ( demand characteristics )

Question 4

Procedure 2

Answer 4

. 150 students shown film of multiple car accidents
. Divided into 3 groups
. 50 asked how fast… Hit
. 50 asked how fast… Smashed
. 50 not asked about speed (control)
. Week later asked if they saw any broken glass

Question 5

Results 2

Answer 5

. 16/50 in smashed condition said they had seen broken glass
. 7/50 in hit condition recalled seeing glass
. 6/50 in the control group

Question 6

Conclusions & implications

Answer 6

. Results show that the verb ‘smashed’ increases speed estimates and increases likelihood of seeing glass that wasn’t present
. Indicates that info from original memory merged with info after the fact, producing a distorted memory
. 2 types of memory which make up memory of a complex event: info we get from perceiving the event and info we get after the event
. Implications for eye witness testimonies relied on in court
. Police should avoid leading questions, as info gained is unreliable