Loftus And Palmer

Question 1

What is the aim of Loftus and Palmer’s study?

Answer 1

To investigate how leading questions could influence eyewitness testimony

Question 2

How many participants were in Experiment 1?

Answer 2

45 students, divided into 5 groups with 9 participants in each group.

Question 3

How many participants were in Experiment 2?

Answer 3

150 students, divided into 3 groups with 50 participants in each group

Question 4

What was the research method used in L+P?

Answer 4

Lab experiments with independent measures design

Question 5

What was the procedure of Experiment 1 in L+P?

Answer 5

— All ptps shown same 7 clips of traffic accidents
— After, ptps were given questionnaire where asked to describe the accident and answer questions
— Critical question asked: “how fast were the cars going when they hit each other?”
— Each group had a different verb: smashed, collided, contacted, bumped, hit.

Question 6

What is the IV and DV of Experiment 1 in L+P?

Answer 6

IV: the verbs

DV: the mph

Question 7

What were the controls used in Experiment 1 of L+P?

Answer 7

1. Each groups saw films in different order
2. Random allocation for groups
3. All ptps received same questionnaire

Question 8

What were the results of Experiment 1 of L+P?

Answer 8

1. Smashed: 40.8 mph
2. Collided: 39 mph
3. Bumped: 38 mph
4. Hit: 34 mph
5. Contacted: 31mph

Question 9

What is the conclusion of Experiment 1 of L+P?

Answer 9

The wording of the question did have an effect on the estimate of speed showing leading questions can influence response

Question 10

What are the two explanations for the reasons for the differences in results from Experiment 1 in L+P?

Answer 10

1. Response bias= ptp can’t tell mph or verb biased results towards one answer
2. Change in memory= judgement of speed is based on verb

Question 11

Why was Experiment 2 of L+P designed?

Answer 11

To see which explanation was correct, either response bias or change in memory

Question 12

What was the procedure of Experiment 2 of L+P?

Answer 12

— Each group shown a one minute film of car accident
— Questionnaire 1: asked on day of video
— Group 1: How fast were the cars going when they hit each other?
— Group 2: How fast were the cars going when they smashed into each other?
— Group 3: Control group, did not receive a question on speed

— Questionnaire 2: one week after viewing the video
— Groups given questionnaire of 10 questions, with one critical question:
— Did you see any broken glass?

Question 13

What is the IV and the DV in Experiment 2 of L+P?

Answer 13

IV: the verb used

DV: mph + response to question on broken glass

Question 14

What were the results of Experiment 2 in L+P?

Answer 14

1. Smashed: 16 saw broken glass - average of 10 mph
2. Hit: 7 saw broken glass - average 8 mph
3. Control: 6 saw broken glass

Question 15

What is the conclusion of Experiment 2 in L+P?

Answer 15

1. Wording of question influenced estimate of speed
2. Results in Experiment 1 is not due to response bias (leading questions influence memory)
3. Memory is reconstructive and affected by new info

Question 16

What are schemas?

Answer 16

Organised mental representations of information

Eg. Situations, events, people and objects

Question 17

How do schemas affect memory?

Answer 17

1. They guide the selection of what will be stored
2. Only stores some information from an event
3. New information may be distorted