Factors affecting EWT : misleading information

Eye-witness testimony

The ability of people to remember the details of events, such as accidents and crimes, which they themselves have observed. Accuracy of EWT can be affected by factors such as anxiety and misleading information.

Misleading information

Incorrect information given to an eyewitness usually after the event. Takes many forms such as leading questions and post event discussions between co witnesses.

Leading questions

A question which because of the way its phrased, suggests a certain answer.

Post-event discussion

Occurs when there is more than one witness to an event. Witnesses may discuss what they have seen with co witnesses. This may influence the accuracy of each witnesses recall of the event.

Misleading information research

• Loftus and Palmer (1974) had 45 participants watch clips of car accidents and asked them question about the accident.

• One leading question changed the verb ‘how fast were the cars going to hit each other’ different groups had different verbs such as collided smash contacted.

• Findings show the mean estimated speed for the verb contacted was 31.8mph whereas for the verb smashed the mean was 40.5mph.

• This shows that the leading questions biased the eyewitness’ s recall of an event.

Response-bias explanation

Wording of a question has no enduring effect on an eyewitness's memory of an event, but influences the kind of answer given.

Substitution explanation

Wording of a question does affect eyewitness memory; it interferes with its original memory, distorting its accuracy.

Memory contamination

When co-witnesses discuss a crime, they mixed information from other witnesses with their own memories.

Memory conformity

Witnesses go along with each other to win social approval or because they believe the other witnesses are right.