Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the main concern regarding eyewitness testimony?
What is the main concern regarding eyewitness testimony?
- Eyewitnesses always provide accurate details.
- Eyewitnesses never forget important events.
- Eyewitness memories can be distorted and biased. (correct)
- Eyewitnesses require little to no questioning.
Eyewitnesses can sometimes remember entire events that did not actually happen.
Eyewitnesses can sometimes remember entire events that did not actually happen.
True (A)
Name one factor that can influence an eyewitness's recollection of an event.
Name one factor that can influence an eyewitness's recollection of an event.
Interviews by police or lawyers.
Eyewitness testimony can impede _____ due to memory errors.
Eyewitness testimony can impede _____ due to memory errors.
Match the following terms with their definitions:
Match the following terms with their definitions:
Which of the following is a common mistake made by eyewitnesses?
Which of the following is a common mistake made by eyewitnesses?
Eyewitness testimony is often considered to be weak evidence in court due to its reliability.
Eyewitness testimony is often considered to be weak evidence in court due to its reliability.
What is one of the main learning objectives regarding eyewitness testimony?
What is one of the main learning objectives regarding eyewitness testimony?
What percentage of DNA exoneration cases have been attributed to faulty eyewitness testimony?
What percentage of DNA exoneration cases have been attributed to faulty eyewitness testimony?
Eyewitness testimony is the least persuasive form of evidence presented in court.
Eyewitness testimony is the least persuasive form of evidence presented in court.
Who was the man identified as the rapist by Jennifer Thompson?
Who was the man identified as the rapist by Jennifer Thompson?
The phenomenon where inaccurate information contaminates a witness's memory is known as the ________ effect.
The phenomenon where inaccurate information contaminates a witness's memory is known as the ________ effect.
Match the following terms with their definitions:
Match the following terms with their definitions:
Which condition increases the likelihood of misinformation affecting eyewitness memory?
Which condition increases the likelihood of misinformation affecting eyewitness memory?
Children are generally less susceptible to misinformation than young adults.
Children are generally less susceptible to misinformation than young adults.
What was the misleading question asked to subjects after they viewed a slideshow of a car accident?
What was the misleading question asked to subjects after they viewed a slideshow of a car accident?
The event where a person identifies the wrong individual as a perpetrator leads to a ________ conviction.
The event where a person identifies the wrong individual as a perpetrator leads to a ________ conviction.
What kind of signals were used in the study involving different video perspectives?
What kind of signals were used in the study involving different video perspectives?
Most inaccuracies in eyewitness testimony are intentional.
Most inaccuracies in eyewitness testimony are intentional.
What factor can significantly influence an eyewitness's identification accuracy?
What factor can significantly influence an eyewitness's identification accuracy?
Eyewitnesses are typically shown lineups that consist only of actual suspects.
Eyewitnesses are typically shown lineups that consist only of actual suspects.
What major outcome can result from faulty eyewitness testimony?
What major outcome can result from faulty eyewitness testimony?
The study of eyewitness memory revealed that even slight differences in question wording could lead to ________ effects.
The study of eyewitness memory revealed that even slight differences in question wording could lead to ________ effects.
What is the term used for the phenomenon where a person cannot recall a name that feels just out of reach?
What is the term used for the phenomenon where a person cannot recall a name that feels just out of reach?
Match the researchers with their contributions to eyewitness memory studies:
Match the researchers with their contributions to eyewitness memory studies:
One way to minimize memory errors in eyewitness identification is to conduct __________ lineups.
One way to minimize memory errors in eyewitness identification is to conduct __________ lineups.
Match the following types of memory errors with their descriptions:
Match the following types of memory errors with their descriptions:
In a target absent lineup, what is the expected correct choice for a witness?
In a target absent lineup, what is the expected correct choice for a witness?
Schemata can hinder the recall of certain details about a situation.
Schemata can hinder the recall of certain details about a situation.
Name two factors that can lead to errors in eyewitness identifications.
Name two factors that can lead to errors in eyewitness identifications.
The investigation of a suspect may progress if the eyewitness __________ the suspect from the lineup.
The investigation of a suspect may progress if the eyewitness __________ the suspect from the lineup.
What is an essential characteristic of a fair lineup?
What is an essential characteristic of a fair lineup?
Memory errors become easier to correct once they are made.
Memory errors become easier to correct once they are made.
What is a potential consequence of a witness identifying a foil during a lineup?
What is a potential consequence of a witness identifying a foil during a lineup?
Eyewitnesses can make mistakes due to factors like __________, too little time to view, and delay.
Eyewitnesses can make mistakes due to factors like __________, too little time to view, and delay.
Match the following terms with their definitions:
Match the following terms with their definitions:
What is the main purpose of schemata in memory systems?
What is the main purpose of schemata in memory systems?
False memories can only occur in therapy settings.
False memories can only occur in therapy settings.
What kind of event did subjects falsely remember in Loftus & Pickrell's study?
What kind of event did subjects falsely remember in Loftus & Pickrell's study?
The phenomenon where a person recalls an event that did not actually happen is known as a __________.
The phenomenon where a person recalls an event that did not actually happen is known as a __________.
Match the false memory study with its associated event:
Match the false memory study with its associated event:
Which method was NOT mentioned for creating false memories?
Which method was NOT mentioned for creating false memories?
Eyewitness testimony is known to be completely reliable.
Eyewitness testimony is known to be completely reliable.
What is one significant impact of false memory on individuals?
What is one significant impact of false memory on individuals?
Therapists claimed that patients were __________ genuine memories of past abuses.
Therapists claimed that patients were __________ genuine memories of past abuses.
Match the study type with its false memory technique:
Match the study type with its false memory technique:
What was the outcome of early false memory studies involving family members?
What was the outcome of early false memory studies involving family members?
False memories are easy to differentiate from true memories.
False memories are easy to differentiate from true memories.
Name one factor that can corrupt eyewitness memory.
Name one factor that can corrupt eyewitness memory.
False memories are often created through __________ manipulation.
False memories are often created through __________ manipulation.
What type of memories are particularly affected by co-witness conversations?
What type of memories are particularly affected by co-witness conversations?
Memory retrieval always involves recollecting accurate information.
Memory retrieval always involves recollecting accurate information.
Study Notes
Eyewitness Testimony and Memory Biases
- Eyewitness testimony plays a crucial role in legal proceedings but is prone to errors and biases that can distort reality.
- Human memory is not a perfect recording; it is suggestible and subject to inaccuracies.
Importance of Eyewitness Testimony
- Considered one of the most persuasive forms of evidence in court, eyewitness testimony can lead to wrongful convictions.
- Faulty eyewitness accounts implicated in over 75% of DNA exoneration cases, highlighting the risk of mistaken identity.
Misinformation Effect
- Introduced misinformation can alter a witness's memory, leading to incorrect recollections of events.
- Example: A study showed participants misremembering traffic signs after being subjected to leading questions.
- Memory contamination can occur even with unintentional misinformation, affecting individuals' ability to accurately recall events.
Memory and Co-witness Interaction
- Witnesses discussing an event can inadvertently influence each other's memories, leading to inaccuracies.
- Studies using polarized lenses demonstrated that participants could misremember details after collaborative discussions.
Eyewitness Identification Processes
- Eyewitnesses often identify suspects from lineups or photo spreads, which can lead to errors influenced by various factors such as stress or viewing conditions.
- Common misconceptions include mistakenly identifying foils in lineups or failing to choose any individual in a target-present lineup.
- Proper lineup procedures, including unbiased instructions and sequential presentation, can help reduce identification errors.
Types of Memory Biases
- Memory can be affected by numerous biases, including forgetting details, mixing up events, and forming false memories.
- Schemata help simplify memory recall but may lead to recalling generic or incorrect details instead of specific occurrences.
False Memories
- False memories can be created through suggestive practices, with individuals often believing they experienced events that never occurred.
- Studies showed that misinformation, when reinforced through therapy or external suggestions, can lead to the development of entire false narratives, such as alleged childhood abuses.
Conclusion on Eyewitness Testimony
- The reliability of eyewitness testimony is highly questionable due to the ease with which memory can be influenced and distorted.
- Efforts to strengthen the procedures surrounding eyewitness identification are crucial to preventing miscarriages of justice.### Issues with Eyewitness Memory
- Eyewitness memory can be distorted by factors such as leading questions and misinterpretations.
- Conversations with co-witnesses and personal expectations can further corrupt recollection.
- Individuals may falsely remember entire events that never took place.
Implications for the Legal System
- Challenges with eyewitness memory pose significant issues within legal proceedings.
- The legal system often relies heavily on eyewitness testimony, despite its potential inaccuracies.
Recommendations for Improvement
- Specific recommendations have been proposed to address eyewitness memory corruption.
- Some measures focus on legal procedures, detailing optimal techniques for interviewing witnesses and conducting lineups.
- Educational initiatives emphasize providing jurors and evaluators with expert insights into eyewitness memory.
Value vs. Accuracy of Eyewitness Testimony
- While eyewitness testimony can be valuable in legal contexts, research indicates it is frequently overvalued relative to its actual accuracy.
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Description
This quiz explores the critical role of eyewitness testimony in legal settings and examines the biases that can affect memory accuracy. It highlights the impact of misinformation, the influence of co-witness interactions, and the implications for wrongful convictions. Test your knowledge of these important issues surrounding memory and justice.
