Factors affecting accuracy of eyewitness testimonies Flashcards
(16 cards)
Outline one research into leading questions
- 45 participants shown short video clips of cars colliding
- Split into 5 groups
- All asked About how fast were the cars going when they —— each other
- Each group given different verb to fill in blank (smashed, collided, bumped hit, contacted)
- Found when smashed was used, participants estimated cars travelled much faster (on average 40.8mph)
- When contacted was used, estimates were much slower (on average 31.8 mph)
- Verb influence participants estimates for speed, shows effect of leading questions on accuracy of EWT
Outline final research into leading questions
- 150 participants viewed car crash before being asked how fast were cars going when they —-
- 50 asked with verb smashed
- 50 with verb hit
- 50 as a control group with no question
- One week later questioned on memory of event
- Asked did you see any broken glass (there wasn’t any)
- Participants who heard smashed were more likely to say yes than those who heard hit and those in control group
- Verb smashed indicated cars traveling at higher speed so more likely to result in broken glass
Why might post-event discussion lead to inaccurate EWT?
- Memory contamination (recall of events influenced by our own schemas and cognitive biases, other peoples memory of events may have been combined with their own so becomes contaminated)
- Memory conformity (Witness may go along with others, even if others are wrong, wants social approval)
Outline research into post-event discussion
- Participants watched video of girl stealing money from wallet
- Either tested individually (control group) or in pairs (co-witness group)
- Participants in co-witness group told that they had watched same video however they saw different perspectives of same crime and only one person actually saw girl steal
- Then they discussed crime after together
- Completed questionnaire testing memory of event
- 71% of witnesses in co-witness group recalled information they had actually not seen
- 60% said girl was guilty, despite may not have seeing her commit crime
- Post-event discussion can impact accuracy of EWT
Identify the three factors affecting the accuracy of eyewitness testimony.
Leading questions, post-event discussion, and anxiety.
What is a limitation of leading questions research related to participant sample?
University students with limited driving experience took part. They may have relied more on the verb due to lack of real-world knowledge, rather than actual memory distortion. Therefore, findings may not apply to older, experienced drivers.
What is a strength of leading questions research supported by further findings?
Follow-up study asked participants if they saw broken glass. Those given the word ‘smashed’ were more likely to say yes, even though there was none. This suggests memory was actually altered, not just biased.
What is a limitation of Post Event Discussion due to artificial setting?
Studies were conducted in lab settings. Participants knew it wasn’t a real crime, so they may not have taken their answers seriously.
What is another limitation of Post Event Discussion due to task type?
Participants watched staged videos, which lacked emotional impact. Real crimes would involve stress, which may affect memory differently.
What is a limitation of post-event discussion research due to artificial setting?
Conducted in controlled lab environments. Participants knew they weren’t seeing a real crime with legal consequences.
What is a strength of post-event discussion research due to practical applications?
Findings have influenced police practices — witnesses are now kept apart.
Outline research into anxiety as a factor affecting EWT.
Lab study: Participants heard a discussion. A man emerged with a pen or a bloody knife. More accurate recall with the pen. Weapon focus effect: Anxiety causes attention to focus on weapon over facial features. Real-life study: Witnesses of armed robbery with high anxiety had more accurate recall.
What is a limitation of anxiety research due to confounding surprise effects?
In a study, a thief held scissors, gun, wallet, or raw chicken. Poorest recall was with gun and raw chicken.
What is a limitation of real-life anxiety research due to confounding variables?
High-anxiety witnesses in robbery study were closer to the event. So improved recall, confounding variables, hard to say anxiety affected recall
What is a limitation of anxiety research due to individual differences?
People low in neuroticism recall better under stress. Highly neurotic people recall worse.
What is a limitation of anxiety research due to ethical concerns?
Findings suggesting anxious witnesses are unreliable may lead to their testimonies being ignored.
