Accuracy Of EWT : Anxiety

Question 1

Weakness :What may not cause the weapon focus effect?

Answer 1

The weapon focus effect may not be caused by anxiety.

Evidence is that a researcher tested a robbery in a hairdresser where the thief carried a handgun, scissors, wallet, or raw chicken, and identification was less accurate in high surprise conditions rather than high threat conditions

This supports the view that it is surprise that leads to the weapon focus which reduces accuracy and hence questions reliability.

Question 2

Weakness :What conclusion can be drawn about anxiety’s impact on accuracy?

Answer 2

No simple conclusion can be drawn regarding anxiety’s impact on accuracy.

A researcher review of 21 studies found equal numbers of high recall in anxiety studies (11) and low anxiety (10), showcasing the Yerkes-Dodson effect.

This shows that the Yerkes-Dodson effect indicates that there’s no simple rule about whether anxiety has a positive or negative impact on accuracy as there are no reliable results, which lacks reliability.

Question 3

What is a strength of studying anxiety in real life events?

Answer 3

Real life events provide valid results regarding anxiety.

Christanson et al.’s study was conducted in the context of a real crime, such as a bank robbery, suggesting ecological validity.

This suggests that results from real life valid as they produce anxiety during the real context of the crime rather than being artificial, ecological validity

Question 4

What is a weakness related to individual differences in accuracy?

Answer 4

Research found that stable participants showed rising accuracy levels as stress increased, while neurotics’ accuracy decreased with stress.

This suggests individual differences, particularly personality and emotional sensitivity, affect accuracy in ENT.

Question 5

What is a strength of controlled studies?

Answer 5

Controlled conditions in studies, such as Johnson et al.’s, reduce bias from extraneous confounding variables.

This demonstrates that findings can be replicated and yield similar results, indicating reliability.

Question 6

How does anxiety affect the recall of events?

Answer 6

Anxiety affects the recall of events and hence affects eyewitness testimony (EWT).

Question 7

What is the negative effect of anxiety on memory during violent crimes?

Answer 7

In violent crimes, witnesses focus on central details (e.g., weapons) rather than peripheral details (e.g., the person’s face).

Question 8

What did the Johnson and Scott study demonstrate about anxiety and memory recall?

Answer 8

The study showed that participants in a low anxiety condition recalled 49% of details, while those in a high anxiety condition recalled only 33%.

This indicates that anxiety and weapon focus negatively impact EWT.

Question 9

What positive effect of anxiety on memory was found by Christianson?

Answer 9

Christianson found that 75% of real witnesses to bank robberies had accurate recall, with the most anxious witnesses (victims) having the best recall.

Question 10

What conclusion can be drawn about anxiety’s effect on EWT?

Answer 10

We cannot conclusively decide if anxiety and weapon focus affect the accuracy of EWT in a positive or negative way.

Question 11

A01 accuracy of EWT :anxiety

Answer 11

-anxiety affects the recall of events and hence affects EWT

-Anxiety has an negative effect on memory as in violent crimes the witness
focuses on central details of the attack (weapons) rather than the
peripheral details (person face).
-Evidence for this is the Johnson and Scott study where pps sat in a waiting
room and an argument breaks out in an adjoin room which they can hear
condition I was a man running out the room carrying a pen covered in grease-low Anxiety
· Condition 2 was a man running out a room carrying a knife covered in blood-High anxiety
pps were later asked to identify the man from a set of photographs
condition I had a recall of 49%
condition 2 had a recall of 33%
this shows how anxiety and weapon focus impacts EWT negatively

-However anxiety also has an positive effect on memory Christianson found
75% accurate recall in real witnesses to bank robberies and the witnesses who
were the most anxious (victims)had the best recall
-this shows that we can’t come to a conclusion to decide If anxiety and weapon focus affects the accuracy ofEWT in a positive or negative way