Reconstructive memory studies

Question 1

What was the aim of Loftus and Pickrell (1995)?

Answer 1

If false memories of autobiographical events can be created through suggestion.

Question 2

Who were the participants?

Answer 2

3 males and 21 females

Question 3

What was the procedure?

Answer 3

The researchers contacted the family of the participants and were asked to describe 3 childhood events and if they remember a time when the participant was lost in a mall.

Then, the ppants recieved a questionnaire that asked them to write about 4 memories (3 real and 1 fake mall one). They could say they didn’t remember the event.

They were then interviewed twice over a period of 4 weeks and asked to recall as much info about the events as possible. They also rated their level of confidence in the memory.

Question 4

What were the results?

Answer 4

25% recalled the false memory. They ranked it as less confident and wrote less about it in the questionnaire.

Question 5

What are strengths of Loftus and Pickrell?

Answer 5

• High ecological validity as people were talking about childhood memories.
• Memories were verified through family members.
• Were debriefed
• Findings were applied to eyewitness testimonies.

Question 6

What are the weaknesses of Loftus and Pickrell?

Answer 6

• Cannot know if it is true false memory or a distortion of another memory of getting lost somewhere.
• Questionnaire filled out at home –> could lead to contamination as they could have talked to others.
• Possible demand characteristics such as social desirability effect.