Eye Witness Testimony

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  • Eye Witness Testimony
    • The Cognitive Interview (CI)
      • This is a policing technique for interviewing witnesses of a crime
      • It encourages them to recreate the original context in their mind to allow for better recall
      • There are four main sub techniques that are used in the interview
        • Report everything
        • Mental reinstatement
        • Changing the order
        • Change the perspective
      • Kohnken et al (1999)
        • Meta-analysis of 53 studies show a 34% increase in correct info given
      • Milne and Ball (2002)
        • Report everything+ mental reinstatement = better recall
      • Individual differences
        • Mello and Fisher (1996)
          • CI makes a significant difference in older peoples recall
      • Stein and Memon (2006)
        • Compared normal interview and CI in Brazil
          • CI increased amount of correct info and level of detail
    • Factors Affecting Accuracy
      • Anxiety
        • Christianson and Hubinette (1993)
          • Questioned 58 witnesses to robberies
          • P's who were threatened were more accurate in their recall and detail
        • Anxiety may have a positive effect on memory
        • The Yerkes-Dodson effect shows that we need a certain amount of emotional arousal to improve performance
      • Weapon Focus Effect
        • Johnson and Scott (1976)
          • One condition involved a weapon and one did not
          • In both conditions P's heard noise in the next room.
          • Condition 1 a man emerged holding a pen with grease on it
          • Condition 2 P's saw a man emerge with a paper knife covered in blood
          • P's asked to identify man from 50 pics
          • Condition 1 - 49% accurate
          • Condition 2 - 33% accurate
      • Post-event Discussion
        • Memories can be contaminated by discussion with other witnesses
        • Co-witnesses may reach a consensus on what happened
        • Each time a witness is interviewed they may pick up cues from the interviewer
        • The officer may using leading questions which can alter the witnesses memory
      • Schema
        • An original packet of information that stores our knowledge about the world
        • Each schema contains stereotypes and expectations
        • Prior experience will influence our perceptions
        • Stereotypes can influence recall and thinking

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