Loftus and Palmer 1974 Flashcards
(18 cards)
What year was the Loftus and Palmer study conducted?
1974
What was the aim of Loftus and Palmer’s study in 1974?
To see the effects of language on memory.
How many participants were in experiment 1 by Loftus and Palmer (1974)?
45 people divided into 5 groups of 9 people.
What questions were asked in Loftus and Palmer’s first experiment?
Participants were asked distractor questions followed by: ‘How fast were the cars going when they smashed / collided / bumped / hit / contacted each other?’
What acronym can be used to remember the different word changes in experiment 1?
Simon Cowell Bit His Cat
What were the different terms used in Loftus and Palmer’s first experiment?
Smashed, Collided, Bumped, Hit, Contacted.
What were the mean speed results for the first experiment by Loftus and Palmer?
Smashed - 40.8, Collided - 39.3, Bumped - 38.1, Hit - 34.0, Contacted - 31.8.
How many participants and groups were there in Loftus and Palmer’s second experiment?
150 participants split into 3 groups.
What was asked to the participants in Loftus and Palmer’s second experiment after the distractor questions?
‘How fast were the cars going when they smashed / hit each other?’
Why were there three groups and not two in Loftus and Palmer’s second experiment?
One group wasn’t asked about the cars’ speeds (control group).
What happened a week later in Loftus and Palmer’s second experiment?
Participants were brought back and asked if they saw any broken glass (there was none).
How many participants ‘saw’ broken glass for each group category in Loftus and Palmer’s second experiment?
Smashed - 16/50 said yes, Hit - 7/50 said yes, None - 6/50 said yes.
What is one usefulness of Loftus and Palmer’s experiment (1974)?
They carried out a controlled laboratory experiment which fulfills the scientific criteria of theory, control, evidence and replication.
What is another usefulness of Loftus and Palmer’s experiment?
This study contributed to research on the best way for police officers to question witnesses, suggesting real-life applications.
What did 121 participants correctly say in Loftus and Palmer’s study?
121 participants correctly said no (including 2/3 of participants in the ‘smashed’ condition), indicating it’s hard to change memories of events.
What did Loftus measure in her study?
Loftus measured what she set out to measure, indicating internal validity.
What was the only deception in Loftus and Palmer’s experiment?
The only deception was necessary for the experiment.
What are the two types of information suggested by Loftus that are gained at an event?
Information gained at the time of the event and information gained after the event (subsequent information).
