Eye Witness Testimony

Question 1

Factors effecting EWT

Answer 1

Misleading questions through:
Leading questions and post event discussion

Question 2

Loftus & palmer EWT experiment

Answer 2

Aim -> investigate how info provided to a witness after an event will influence their memory of that event

Method -> 2 lab experiments, independent measures design, IV = verb used, DV = estimate of speed

Each group asked ‘how fast were the cars going when they ___ each other’ (smashed, collided)
Results for group 1 = when ‘Smashed’ was used speed = 40.8

Group 2 - asked ‘did you see any broke glass - used same variation of verb

Question 3

2 explanations for the results of experiment 1

Answer 3

1. Response bias: the different speeds estimated were because the critical word (smashed, hit) influences a persons response
2. Memory is altered: the critical word changes a persons memory so they actually ‘see’ the accident differently

HOWEVER: leading questions had actually altered the pts memory of the event

Question 4

Evaluate the Loftus and Palmer study on EWT

Answer 4

Ecological validity - low, it was a lab study, pts knew they were in an experiment (in real life there would be an element of surprise, not paying attention to speed

Participants- all students, age, driving experience, educational experience

Usefulness - used in police questioning witnesses