Eyewitness Testimony and Suggestibility Research

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Questions and Answers

What is one way that officers can limit the amount of information collected from witnesses?

By asking leading questions that suggest a particular answer (correct)

By using longer and more open-ended questions

By allowing witnesses to describe events freely without interruptions

By asking questions in the order that witnesses provide them

What phenomenon describes the influence of one witness's report on another's recall?

Source misattribution

Misinformation effect

Cognitive dissonance

Memory conformity (correct)

Which of the following best describes the misinformation effect?

Witness accounts are always reliable and consistent

Witnesses recall events based solely on their own memories

Witnesses only remember detailed descriptions of events

Inaccurate information presented post-event is incorporated into recall (correct)

What term is used to describe the situation when witnesses confuse the source of both accurate and inaccurate information?

Source misattribution Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of questioning can lead to short answers from witnesses?

Questioning with very short, specific questions Signup and view all the answers

What effect did the phrasing of questions have on witness recall in Loftus's study on car accidents?

It altered perceptions of speed based on wording Signup and view all the answers

Why might witnesses accept misinformation when questioned after an event?

They may want to please the questioner by guessing Signup and view all the answers

How does the order of questioning impact the recollection of witnesses?

A predetermined order could confuse the witness Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of a police selection interview?

To evaluate the extent to which the applicant possesses the relevant KSAs Signup and view all the answers

Which type of cognitive ability tests measures a candidate's potential aptitude for police work?

RCMP Police Aptitude Test Signup and view all the answers

Which personality test was developed specifically for law enforcement?

Invalid Personality Inventory Signup and view all the answers

What role does the situational test play in an assessment center for police selection?

Simulates real-world policing tasks Signup and view all the answers

Research has shown that interviews can predict job performance effectively when they include what?

A standard, predetermined list of questions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true about cognitive ability tests in the context of police selection?

They measure memory and reasoning abilities as well Signup and view all the answers

What is a major concern regarding police discretion?

Potential for discriminatory decision-making Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of police selection instruments is often overlooked according to the research?

The validity of psychological tests Signup and view all the answers

What effect does a sequential lineup have on witness identifications?

It forces witnesses to make a decision before seeing the next member. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main disadvantage of a showup identification method?

It may lead to a coercive environment for the witness. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of bias occurs when the suspect is the only lineup member matching the description?

Foil bias Signup and view all the answers

During a biased lineup, which of the following can significantly increase false positives?

The lineup instructions suggest the perpetrator is present. Signup and view all the answers

In a walk-by identification, what is the primary characteristic of this method?

The identification occurs in a naturalistic setting. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the outcome of showing a sequential lineup compared to a simultaneous one?

Sequential lineups decrease the likelihood of false identifications. Signup and view all the answers

What can influence a witness’s ability to accurately identify a suspect?

The presence of a unique facial feature in the suspect Signup and view all the answers

Which bias is characterized by the suspect wearing the exact clothing described by the witness?

Clothing bias Signup and view all the answers

What influence does voice sample length have on identification accuracy?

Identification accuracy is higher with longer voice samples. Signup and view all the answers

How do older adults perform in recognizing faces from lineups compared to younger adults?

Older adults are less likely to identify the perpetrator correctly. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT associated with the confidence and accuracy of eyewitness testimony?

Eyewitness age. Signup and view all the answers

What is the own-race bias in eyewitness identification?

Better identification accuracy for own-race faces than other-race faces. Signup and view all the answers

Which variable can influence identification accuracy according to the whispering condition?

Identification accuracy is influenced by distinctiveness when whispering is present. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does intoxication have on race recognition in eyewitnesses?

Intoxication negatively impacts recognition of same-race faces more than other-race faces. Signup and view all the answers

What hypothesis regarding cross-race effects lacks substantial support?

Attitudes towards other races improve identification. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between weapon focus and eyewitness identification?

Witnesses are less accurate when focusing on a weapon. Signup and view all the answers

What did James Cattell discover about eyewitness testimony?

Answers and recollections were frequently inaccurate. Signup and view all the answers

How did Alfred Binet's experiments with children demonstrate the impact of suggestive questions?

Children's responses were affected by misleading questions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'reality experiment' developed by William Stern used for?

To study recall and recognition in eyewitness research. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes emotional arousal's effect on testimony accuracy according to Stern's findings?

It negatively impacts one's accuracy. Signup and view all the answers

What trend was observed regarding psychologists in Europe during the early history of forensic psychology?

Psychologists began to serve as expert witnesses. Signup and view all the answers

In Binet's experiments, how did the children perform when asked to report everything they saw?

Their answers were correct and accurate. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about the early research on testimony and suggestibility is true?

The findings led to an increased focus on the psychological aspects of testimony. Signup and view all the answers

Why is emotional arousal significant in the context of eyewitness testimony?

It can interfere with and reduce the accuracy of recall. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Early Research on Testimony and Suggestibility

Early research on eyewitness testimony and suggestibility started in the United States and Europe.
James Cattell conducted an experiment on eyewitness testimony finding that people's recollections were inaccurate.
Alfred Binet found that children's testimonies were very susceptible to suggestive questioning techniques; he concluded when asked to report everything, the answers were accurate, but when asked misleading questions, the answers were inaccurate.
William Stern developed the "reality experiment" to study recall and recognition; he found that emotional arousal could negatively impact one's accuracy.

The Misnformation Effect

Elizabeth Loftus found that witness recall can be altered by the phrasing of a question.
For example, in her study, after viewing a video of a car crash, participants asked, “How fast were the cars going when they __?” responded with higher speeds when the verb “smashed” was used, and lower speeds when “bumped” or “contacted” was used.
Those who had heard “smashed” were also more likely to report seeing broken glass when none was shown.
The misinformation effect occurs when a witness's memory is altered by inaccurate information being presented following an event.
There are 3 reasons for this effect:
- Misinformation acceptance hypothesis: Witnesses may guess the answer they think the experimenter wants.
- Source misattribution hypothesis: Witnesses may remember both accurate and inaccurate information but get confused about where they came from.
- Relative judgment: Witnesses compare lineup members to one another and the person who looks most like the perpetrator is identified.

Lineup Bias

Biased lineups can suggest to the witness who the police suspect and therefore who the witness should identify.
These are considered to increase false positives.
There are 3 biases that increase false positives:
- Foil bias: the suspect is the only member who matches the description of the perpetrator.
- Clothing bias: the suspect is the only member who matches the perpetrator’s clothes.
- Instruction bias: the police fail to mention the perpetrator may not be present, rather implying they are.

Voice Identification

Research has shown that longer voice samples, laughter, and distinctiveness combined with whispering can increase voice identification accuracy.
Whispering alone decreases identification accuracy.

Confident Witnesses and Accuracy

There is a small positive correlation between witness accuracy and confidence.
However, this relationship is influenced by several moderators including the timing of confidence assessment, post-identification feedback, and repeated expressions of a decision.

Estimate Variable: Age

Research suggests older adults (60+) have limitations in witness identification, being less likely to correctly identify perpetrators from a target-present lineup and more likely to make incorrect decisions from a target-absent lineup.
Older adults generally underperform compared to younger adults.

Estimate Variable: Race

The cross-race effect (also known as the other-race effect or own-race bias) is the phenomenon of witnesses remembering own-race faces with greater accuracy than faces from other races.
Own-race faces produce higher correct identifications and lower false positives than other-race faces.
Although being intoxicated had a larger negative effect on recognizing same-race faces compared to other-race faces (Asians and Europeans), explanations for the cross-race effect include:
- Attitudes: people with fewer prejudices are more inclined to distinguish among members of other races (no support).
- Physiognomic homogeneity: some races have less variability in their faces (i.e., they look alike) (no support).
- Interracial contact: the more contact you have with other races, the better you will be at identifying them (some support).

Estimate Variable: Weapon Focus

Weapon focus: witnesses’ attention is drawn to a weapon, it is more difficult for them to process other info from the crime scene and can negatively impact memory of other details during the event.

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Description

Explore the foundational studies on eyewitness testimony and suggestibility. This quiz covers key experiments by researchers such as James Cattell, Alfred Binet, and Elizabeth Loftus, highlighting how emotional arousal and question phrasing can impact memory recall. Test your knowledge on these significant contributions to psychology.