Method: In a study with an independent groups design, participants heard a discussion in a nearby room. In one condition, a man came out of the room with a pen and grease on his hands. In the second condition, the man came out carrying a knife covered in blood. Participants were asked to identify the man from 50 photographs.
Results: Participants in condition 1 were 49% accurate. Only 33% of the participants in condition 2 were correct.
Conclusion: When anxious and aroused, witnesses focus on a weapon at the expense of other details.
Evaluation: The study has high ecological validity, as the participants weren't aware that the study was staged. However, this means that there are also ethical considerations, as participants could have been very stressed at the sight of the man with a knife.
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