Loftus and Palmer Aims and Context

When eye witnesses give evidence in court in the UK they are asked to take an oath to ensure they are giving a truthful interpretation of what they have witnessed. However, there is a problem if the witness believes they are telling the truth but their testimony is not 100% accurate. The inaccuracy of eye witness testimonies is a major concern and research in the US has shown that an inaccurate testimony is the main factor leading to false convictions. 

One explanation offered for the inaccuracy of them is the way in which the police question witnesses, which may alter their perception of the events and subsequently affect their recall. Some questions are more suggestive than others and in legal terms are called 'leading questions.'

Loftus & Palmer argued that human memory was not entirely reliable, especially when trying to recall…