Memory Flashcards
What are the four aspects that make up the cognitive interview?
report everything
Reinstate context
Reverse order
Change perspective
What are cognitive interviews?
Fisher and Geiselman argued EWT’s could be improved if police used better techniques when interviewing witnesses. Recommended techniques could give insight into how memory works, calling these techniques cognitive interview (CI)
In a CI what is report everything and how does it help EWT’s?
witnesses encouraged to include every single detail even though it may seem irrelevant or witness doesn’t feel comfortable or confident. Trivial details may trigger other important memories
In a CI what is Reinstate context and how does it help EWT’s?
Witnesses should return to crime scene in mind and imagine environment and what their emotions were like. This is to limit context dependant forgetting.
In a CI what is reverse order and how does it help EWT’s?
events should be recalled in different order . This is done to prevent people reporting their expectations of how they think the event happened due to pre existing schemas. Also used to prevent dishonesty
In a CI what is change in perspective and how does it help EWT’s?
witness should recall from another perspective. This is done to disrupt effect of expectations and also effect of schema on recall. This schema generates expectations in a particular setting
What are enhanced cognitive interviews?
Fisher et al developed some additional elements of CI to focus on social dynamic of interactions. Includes ideas such as reducing eyewitness anxiety, minimising distractions, getting witness to speak slowly and asking open ended questions
What is anxiety?
a strong emotional and physical effect but not sure if it helps or hinders EWT’s
What is anxietys positive effect on recall?
witnessing stressful events creates anxiety through physiological arousal (fight or flight). May improve memory due to awareness
What is anxiety’s negatives effect on recall?
since physiological arousal created prevents us from paying attention recall is worse
Who did the research into the positive effects of anxiety on EWT’s?
Yuille and Cutshall
Who did the research into the negative effects of anxiety on EWT’s?
Johnson and Scott
What was the procedure used by Johnson and Scott to look at the negative effect of anxiety on EWT’s?
p’s believed to take part in lab study. While in waiting room low anxiety p’s heard casual conversation then man walking past with pen and grease on hands. In high anxiety condition argument with glass breaking with man walking by covered in blood and with knife
What was the procedure used by Yuille and Cutshall to look at the positive effects of anxiety on EWT’s?
study of an actual shooting in a gun shop. Owner shot thief dead. 21 witnesses and 13 took part in study. interviewed 4-5 months after and compared to original police interviews. Accuracy determined by detail. Also asked how stressed on scale (1-7) or had emotional problems since
What was the findings by Yuille and Cutshall to look at the positive effects of anxiety on EWT’s?
witnesses very accurate in accounts and has little change after 5 months tho some less accurate (age/weight/etc) High stress p’s were most accurate around 88% compared to 75% in Low anxiety P’s. Suggests anxiety doesn’t have negative effect on EWT’s
What was the findings by Johnson and Scott to look at the negative effects of anxiety on EWT’s?
P’s later picked out a man from 50 photos, 49% in pen could identify with eon 33% with knife. Tunnel vision theory memory argues people have enhanced memories for central events (weapons) due to anxiety
What theory is used to explain both positive and negative anxiety effect on EWT’s?
Inverted U theory
What is the inverted U theory in regards to positive and negative effect of anxiety on EWT’s?
It shows how there is an optimum level for anxiety and when going up towards the optimum it can be positive but when going past this point becomes negative
(Beffenbacher) reviewed studies on EWT’s and found mixed results which can be explained using this graph theory
Who did the research on leading questions
Loftus and Palmer
What are leading questions?
when asking questions wording may lead/mislead you to a certain answers, particularly an issue in EWT’s
What was the procedure used by Loftus and Palmer in leading questions research
arranged for 45 p’s to watch film clips of car accidents then asked questions about the incident. In critical question p’s asked how fast car was going when hit. Five groups given different verbs to be used in critical question
What was the findings of Loftus and Palmers research into leading questions?
mean estimated speed was calculated for each group. The verb ‘contacted’ yielded results of 31.8 mph while ‘smashed’ was 40.5 mph meaning this led to a bias recall
What are post event discussions?
when eyewitnesses often discuss with on another of experiences and memories
Who did the research on post-event discussion
Gabbert et al