The effect of Anxiety on Eyewitness Testimony L

The effect of Anxiety on Eyewitness Testimony L. O: To know the outline of 2 studies into the effect of anxiety on EWT. To understand what they show. To be able to compare them by methodology

1. Loftus and Palmer 1974 A. 35 participants B. 45 participants C. 55 participants

2. Loftus and Palmer 1974 how did they retrieve ps responses A. Questionnaire B. Interview C. Video feedback

3. Loftus and Palmer 1974 what was the ‘critical question’ about? A. The stop sign B. The speed of the car C. The barn

4. Loftus and Palmer 1974 fastest estimate A. Approx 61 mph B. Approx 51 mph C. Approx 41 mph

5. Loftus and Palmer 1974 slowest estimate A. Approx 10 mph B. Approx 20 mph C. Approx 30 mph

6. Loftus and Palmer 1974 type of experiment A. lab B. field C. natural

7. Loftus 1975 what was the control group asked? A. How fast was the white sports car going when it was travelling along the country road? B. How fast was the white sports car going when it passed the stop sign whilst travelling along the country road? C. How fast was the white sports car going when it passed the barn whilst travelling along the country road?

8. Loftus 1975 what was the experimental group asked? A. How fast was the white sports car going when it was travelling along the country road? B. How fast was the white sports car going when it passed the stop sign whilst travelling along the country road? C. How fast was the white sports car going when it passed the barn whilst travelling along the country road?

9. Loftus 1975 % in the experimental group who reported seeing a barn? A. 14% B. 18% C. 17%

10. Loftus 1975 type of experiment A. lab B. field C. natural

What role does Anxiety play in EWT? � https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=gmsk. Tb ZIAms � https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Zc 36 e. I 2 J AYI

Do you think anxiety would improve or impair recall?

Contradictory Evidence! � Johnson and Scott (77) The Weapon Effect � Christianson Robberies � Read and Hubinette (1993) Real Life the studies and identify the features.

Anxiety: � Anxiety � Loftus leads to decreased accuracy. . . ◦ Lab experiment ◦ More anxiety=less accurate recall � Anxiety leads to increased accuracy. . . � Christianson and Hubinette (1993) ◦ 110 people, 22 real bank robberies! ◦ Greatest anxiety=most detailed recall.

Explain the solution to the contradiction

AO 3 Discussions/Evaluation � Loftus Weapon Effect Lab Experiment � Christianson Experiment and Hubinette Natural

Anxiety and EWT: Comparing the two studies. . . Loftus’ Weapon Effect Ecological validity Ethics Consequentiality Christianson and Hubinette (1993)

Outline and Evaluate research into how anxiety can influence the accuracy of EWT (16 Marks) AO 1 - Johnson and Scott 1977 (Weapon Effect) AO 1 - Christian and Hubinette 1993 (real-life robberies) Aim: Procedure Findings Conclusions AO 3 P E E L Ecological Validity Which is higher in the two studies and why? Why is this an issue? On the other hand, high ecological validity can lead to low internal validity. Explain why. Consequentiality Which is more likely to fall foul to this issue and which is not? Why is this an issue? What are the real life implications of an issue such as this when getting testimony from witnesses? Ethics Which is the most unethical and why? Why is this an issue? On the other hand, high ecological validity can lead to low internal validity. Explain why.

Picking out of a line up. . . � Pick the bomber. . . � http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=D 7 Ep. Yl. Ka BM 8&feature=related

1. EWT stands for… Everyone’s worst testimony Ear witness testimony Eye witness testimony

2. A major researcher in this area is… Annabel Loftus Elizabeth Loftus Eleanor Loftus

5. Loftus (1975) found out that… Participant’s recollections of a car crash were influenced by the wording of subsequent questions Participant’s recollections of a bank robbery were influenced by the wording of subsequent questions Participant’s recollections of a car crash were influenced by the wording of preexperimental questions

6. The variables of the Loftus(1975) were as follows… IV The different verb used for the question ‘How fast was the car going? ’ DV-reported speed IV- The different verb used for the question ‘How fast was the car going? ’ DV-whether they said ‘yes’ to-’was there any broken glass? ’ IV- Reported speed DV-The different verb used for the question ‘How fast was the car going? ’ reported speed

7. The variables of the Loftus & Palmer study (1974) were as follows… IV The different verb used for the question ‘How fast was the car going? ’ DV-reported speed IV- The different verb used for the question ‘How fast was the car going? ’ DV-whether they said ‘yes’ to-’was there any broken glass? ’ IV- Reported speed DV-The different verb used for the question ‘How fast was the car going? ’ reported speed

8. How may a weapon affect EWT… Make it less reliable due to anxiety Make it less reliable due to distraction of the weapon Both of the above

1. Which of these is not a factor that would affect EWT… Questions given by the investigator The actions of the people involved in the event The eye witnesses previous experiences and knoweldge

‘Explain why a jury may not be totally confident in the evidence provided by eye witnesses of an event’ 12 Marks