Factors affecting eyewitness testimony: Misleading Information

Leading questions

• Loftus and Palmer (car speed): estimates affected by leading question (smashed versus contacted).

Why do leading questions affect EWT?

• Response bias - no change to memory.
• Substitution explanation supported by Loftus and Palmer and report of presence of glass.

Post-event discussion (PED)

• Discussions with others contaminates eyewitnesses' memories.
• Gabbert et al. demonstrated effect, calling it memory conformity - information and normative social influence involved.

Useful real-life applications

• Could help prevent miscarriages of justice and change police interviewing.

Tasks are artificial

• Watching film clips ignores the stress and anxiety associated with a real accident or crime.

Individual differences

• Older people may be less accurate because of own-age bias.

Evaluation extra

• Demand characteristics
• Consequences of EWT