Leading questions, consequences, and testing

Leading questions, consequences, and testing

1. LEADING QUESTIONS

   • A leading question is question that is worded in such a way that it might bias how a respondent answers.
   • LOFTUS and PALMER (1974)
     • PPs where shown a car accident film and then were asked 'How fast were the cars going when they HIT each other?'
       • HIT, COLLIDED, BUMPED, CONTACTED
     • The word used affected the estimation of the speed

2. CONSEQUENCES OF THE TESTIMONY

   • Findings from lab studies do not coincide with evidence from real life
     • PPs in lab studies realize that their inaccurate answers will not lead to serious consequences
   • FOSTER ET AL. (1994)
     • Two groups shown a video of a bank robbery
       • Group 1: Robbery was a real event and their responses would influence the trial
       • Group 2: Assumed that video was simulation
     • Identification of the robber was more accurate for Group 1

3. HOW WITNESSES ARE TESTED

   • Loftus often used forced-choice tests
   • KORIAT and GOLDSMITH (1996)
     • Witness accuracy can increase if tests do not rely on forced-choice formats
     • Witnesses should be allowed to give no answer if they feel unsure
     • Giving appropriate cues can produce more accurate memories for events