Loftus and Palmer (1974) - Study | Psychology

Name of the Researcher(s)

Loftus and Palmer

Publication

1974

IB Question

• Reliability - Reconstructive Memory

Design

Independent Sample Design

Method

True Experiment (Laboratory)

Aim

To investigate if the use of leading questions affect an eyewitnesses’ speed estimation.

Participants and Procedure

45 students were.

1. The participants were shown a short film of a traffic accident.

2. They were afterward given a questionnaire to estimate the speed of the car involved in the accident.

3. They were divided into different conditions depending on the leading question which were written differently:

   • Smashed

   • Bumped

   • Hit

   • Collided

   • Contacted

The question was formatted: “How fast were the cars going when they —- each other?”

Results

The results showed that the more intense the word was, the higher mean speed estimate was.

Conclusion

Leading questions can in-fact reconstruct memories.

Strengths

+ High Control Validity
+ Standardized
+ Cause-and-Effect

Limitations

- Low Ecological Validity - Witnessing a film of a car accident may not invoke the emotions one would with a real car accident.