Classic Research: Loftus And Palmer (Memory)

Question 1

(1) Aims of L+P

Answer 1

• To investigate the effect of leading questions on the estimate of speed

Question 2

(1) Describe the Methodology of L+P

Answer 2

• Lab experiment
• Independent measures design
• American University students (45, 5 groups of 9)
• Questionnaire
• IV: The verb change (smashed, hit, bumped, collided, contacted)
• DV: Estimated speed in mph

Question 3

(1) Describe the procedures of L+P

Answer 3

• 45 students split into 5 groups of 9
• 7 video clips (5-30 secs)
• ‘How fast were the cars going when they ____ each other.’
• Smashed, hit, bumped, collided and contacted.
• Speed estimates recorded in MPH

Question 4

(1) Describe the findings of L+P

Answer 4

• Smashed: 40.8
• Collided: 39.3
• Bumped: 38.1
• Hit: 34.0
• Contacted: 31.8

Question 5

(1) Describe the conclusions of L+P

Answer 5

• Leading questions can affect a witnesses’ answer.
• HOWEVER this might have been due to either a Response bias (the word influenced it) or memory alteration (the word distorted the student’s memory)

Question 6

(2) Describe the Methodology of L+P

Answer 6

• IV: The verb change (smashed or hit)
• DV: Number of ppts who saw broken glass
• Lab experiment
• Questionnaire
• Independent measures design
• 150 split into 3 groups of 50

Question 7

(2) Describe the aims of L+P

Answer 7

• To see if the leading quesrion biased the response or whether the ppt’s memory had been altered due to the leading question

Question 8

(2) Describe the proceduresnof L+P

Answer 8

• 150 students split into 3 groups of 50.
• Short film that showed a muli vehicle car accident.
• GROUP 1: Smashed
• GROUP 2: Hit
• CONTROL: Not asked about speed
• Returned 1 week later, all asked: ‘Did you see any broken glass?’ (There was none)

Question 9

(2) Describe the findings of L+P

Answer 9

• 16 of ‘SMASHED’ saw glass, 34 didn’t.
• 7 of ‘HIT’ saw glass, 43 didn’t.
• 6 of CONTROL saw glass, 44 didn’t.
• SMASHED condition more than twice as likely as an other group to see glass.

Question 10

(2) Describe the conclusions of L+P

Answer 10

• The effect of leading questions is not due to response bias but it is due to memory being altered.
• Leading questions can alter someone’s memory
• Leading questions cause memory to be reconstructed