Flashcards
Lecture 9 - Eyewitness memory
Flashcards do conjunto (10)
- 1What are the differences between physical evidence and eyewitness evidence?Physical evidence: there are protocols (with a scientific foundation) for collecting, preserving and interpreting; physical evidence is often 'circumstantial' (not as strong an evidence)
Eyewitness evidence: collected by non-sepcialists; protocols are not based in scientific foundations; often directly links suspect to the crime
These differences may exist because people believe memory is like a "video recorder" HOWEVER, we know this is not the case at all - and memory can be very unreliable - 2What is the misinformation effect?Exposure to incorrect information about an event, after it has occurred, causing people to incorporate this misinformation into their memories
- 3What are the ways people can encounter misinformation?1. Leading Questions: (e.g. how fast were the cars going when they 'smashed' or 'hit' each other; participants recalled broken glass in the smashed condition)
2. Media reports
3.co-witness information (direct transfer - witnesses talk to each other; indirect transfer - officers allude to what the other witness has said) - 4Explain the results from the police survey (on co-witness talk) (Paterson & Kemp, 2005)Police reported the benefits of co-witness discussion, such as reinforcing memory, recovering from trauma and consistent stories for the court.
There were also impracticalities reported when told to prevent co-witness talk, such as discussion prior to police arrival and ethical concerns (such as discussions between a mother and child) - 5Explain the comparing ways to encounter misinformation study (Paterson & Kemp, 2006b)This study investigated the relative impact of different methods of co-witness information.
Involved watching a crime video, and 1 week later encountering either leading questions, media reports, indirect co-witness info, direct co-witness info and the control (4 correct details, 4 incorrect details in each condition)
Given free recall, short answer and recognition questionnaire.
FINDINGS: co-witnesses encourage both accurate and inaccurate information - 6Explain the warnings about misinformation video (Paterson, Kemp and McIntyre, 2011)Aim: to determine whether co-witness misinformation can be decreased with a warning
Participants watched one of 2 versions of a crime, and were placed in a group with people who watched different videos, or the same video. After a one week follow up, they were shown the warning and then undertook memory tasks
RESULTS: discussion type and warning had no effect on eyewitness accuracy or confidence (could be seeing a floor effect, because it's such a difficult task) - 7What are the theories explaining why the misinformation effect occurs?1. Modification of the memory - Alteration Theories:
The original info doesn't exist because it failed to encode; new information overrides the old; new information blends with the old. HOWEVER, this only occurs for specific types of info
2. Modification of the memory - coexistence theories: the original memory is less accessible, but has not been replaced by the new.
3. Social and demand factors: response bias in favor of new info. People who don't see the entire event/don't remember it have no reason to doubt the new information - 8What are some factors that make people less susceptible to the misinformation effect?1. If they first make a public statement about what they've seen
2. There is less time between witnessing the event and presentation of misinformation
3. misinformation contradicts what they witnessed
4. Source of the misinformation is not credible
5. they are forewarned that they may have encountered misinformation (but doesn't help if the warning is a week later) - 9What are some factors that make people MORE susceptible to the misinformation effect?1. Age (the young and the old)
2. Hypnosis - become highly suggestible
3. Suggestibility
4. Misinformation is repeated
5. Misinformation is peripheral - 10What are some limitations of the misinformation effect?1. Ethical constraints in lab research
2. Ecological validity of lab findings - might be overstating effects
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- Applications of Psychology (Forensic Psych) FlashCards sobre Lecture 9 - Eyewitness memory, criado por amanda_211 em 31-10-2014.
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