Eyewitness Testimony; Misleading Information - Evaluation

Eyewitness Testimony; Misleading Information - Evaluation

1. Research Evidence

   • Loftus
   • Conducted a study involving a cutout of bugs bunny
   • College students asked to evaluate advertising material about Disneyland
   • Material contained misleading info about Bugs Bunny
   • Ppts assigned to bunny condition or control condition (no misleading info)
   • Ppts who were misled were more likely to report shaking hands with Bugs Bunny at Disneyland
   • Shows that misleading info can create false memories

2. Real Life Application

   • Must acknowledge the research on misleading info has real life application
   • Research has been used to warn the justice system of problems with EWT
   • DNA exploration cases have confirmed the warnings of eyewitness identification
   • Shows that mistaken eyewitness identification was the largest single factor contributing to the conviction of innocent people

3. Simplistic

   • Too simplistic as not everyone in supporting research is affected by it
   • Implies that independent behaviour may be a significant factor in whether misleading info affects memory
   • May be that those with an internal LOC are less likely to be affected as they are confident in their own judgements
   • Level of arousal experienced by ppt is also a significant factor
   • Those with high or low levels of arousal are more likely to have poor recall (Yerkes Dodson Law)
   • Poorer recall means they will be more likely to welcome external info, to help them recall their EWT