Loftus and Palmer

Question 1

Area

Answer 1

Cognitive

Question 2

Aim

Answer 2

To investigate the effect of language on memory

Question 3

Sample of Experiment 1

Answer 3

45 students from Washington

Question 4

Procedure for Experiment 1

Answer 4

1. Students were shown 7 clips from Seattle P.D - 4 of which contained staged crashes. The clips were shown in a different order to each participant
2. After each clip, participants were given a questionnaire about the accident, including the critical question.
   3, The critical question asked ‘How fast were the cars going when they (hit/collided/smashed/contacted/bumped) each other?

Question 5

Findings for Experiment 1

Answer 5

Participants estimated a speed of 31.8 for contacted and 40.8 for smashed

Question 6

Conclusions for Experiment 1

Answer 6

People are not good at estimating speeds
The form of the questions changes the answer given by the witness due to response bias and memory change

Question 7

Sample for Experiment 2

Answer 7

150 students from Washington

Question 8

Procedure for Experiment 2

Answer 8

1. Participants watched a 1 minute clip of a multiple car crash
2. They answered a questionnaire that asked about the speed of the car as the critical question
3. A week later, participants answered 10 more questions including ‘Did you see broken glass?’

Question 9

Findings for Experiment 2

Answer 9

7 participants remembered seeing broken glass when ‘hit was the critical verb compared to 16 for ‘smashed’

Question 10

Conclusion for Experiment 2

Answer 10

The form of the questions does change the witness’ memory because their own perception and external information of the event both combine to form their new memory