Previous Research

Previous Research

1. Loftus, Palmer

   • Previous research: people cannot estimate speed; hit and smash have different connotations for speed and severity
   • Use Experiment 1 in reference to present study
   • Experiment 2: imaginings of glass that wasn't there
   • Evidence of reconstruction of memory
   • "Smashed" biased participants to submit their highest estimate

2. Loftus, Miller, Burns

   • Consistent v.s. misleading information
   • In pilot experiment, recognition of correct and incorrect slide was equal for the misleading condition - implies that participants could not tell the difference; prompted forced choice test

3. Loftus, Zanni

   • Previous research: the way a question is worded can impact the accuracy of a person's response
   • Using a definite article (the) creates bias towards definitive answers
   • Using an indefinite article (a) creates more "I don't know" answers
   • Legal implications
   • False recollection: caused either by bias for definitive answer or reconstruction in memoy