Post event discussion (PED) and EWT

Essay responses: Describe and evaluate the WMM (16 marks) We will be looking at these at the beginning of your second lesson. Please can you hand them into me when I come round. Make sure your names are on the back.

Impressed with the overall standard Exam feedback Impressed with the overall standard A01: Need to include researchers name, state that it is A03: Most students failed to link the point back effectively. (Whilst I check homework has been completed: complete handout independently which will help you improve your points) Record on your blue memory card: Grade Target Overall feelings about how you have done.

Homework: due 7th November Homework: complete activity D (new topic: social influence) Reminder mock exam: 7th November (30 minutes)

What we have looked at so far in EWT (memory) The influence of misleading information Leading questions are questions which are asked in such a way to suggest an expected answer For example: Did you see the man crossing the road? The word “the” suggests that there was a man crossing the road. A non-leading question in this case could have been “did you see anybody crossing the road?”

How will I know if I am learning? By the end of the lesson… Success Criteria How will I know if I am learning? By the end of the lesson… E Will be able to define Post Event Discussion (PED) C Will be able to explain how PED can affect EWT. A Will be able to fully describe and evaluate research into the effects of PED on EWT.

Activity A Watch the clip of Friends: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q50tgtWiWdA Recap test: Recap: Memory/theories of forgetting: 10 minutes!!

Activity A – now read a students account of what they saw from the clip of friends Phoebe is wearing a red top. The scene opens with Phoebe complaining that one of the babies is kicking her. Joey knocks on the door and Rachael goes to answer. Joey walks in wearing a blue top and asks if he can borrow a jug as he is having a party for Ross birthday. Rachel states that ‘there is one over there on the table’ Phoebe screams at Joey to get his ‘arse back here’. Rachel asks why they are not invited to Ross’s party. Joey tells them they are not invited because they are not strippers. Monica states that Joey is not invited to the party they are throwing for Phoebe’s birthday. Joey does not want to go to the party stating that ‘it is not something he wants to go to anyway’ and walks out with the jug he came for. Phoebe bursts in to tears and states that she is crying because of the babies.

Now answer these questions about the clip – Feel free to ask for help from friends around the table What colour is Phoebe’s top? Why is Phoebe complaining? Does Joey knock on the door? What colour is Joey’s top? What does Joey ask to borrow? Where does Rachel say that item is that Joey wants to borrow? Why is Joey having a party? Who asks why they are not invited? Who are the girls throwing a party for? What reason does Phoebe giving for crying at the end?

Mistakes 1) Now discuss why you made mistakes on this tasks? 2) Were any of you influenced by the report from the student? If so, your memory was influenced by post-event information. 3) Do you think that eye-witnesses discuss what they saw after an event? 58% of eye-witnesses reported discussing the event with other witnesses (Skagerburg and Wright, 2008) 4) What is the danger of such ‘post-event discussion’ for the accuracy of eye-witness testimony?

Why does PED cause EWT inaccuracy 2 explanations: Interference theory Informational social influence: Often we are uncertain about what behaviour/beliefs are wrong or right cognitive process – people want to be right. Occurs in situations that are ambiguous/new/decisions have to be made quickly/expert is involved in the decision making. Task 1: On the wall mounted whiteboards, explain PED leading to inaccurate EWT in terms of: Interference theory (cognitive explanation):

Activity Read the research on page 15, Make notes. You will be asked 4 true/false questions to test your knowledge

True or False? Correct if false In Gabbert (2003) study 91% of witnesses who discussed the event reported at least one error. In Gabbert’s (2007) study participants were fed 2 pieces of misinformation. This misinformation was fed to the participant either in a group of 4 or 10. The findings of Gabberts research is reliable as many studies have found similar findings.

In Gabbert (2003) study 91% of witnesses who discussed the event reported at least one error. FALSE-71% In Gabbert’s (2007) study participants were fed 2 pieces of misinformation. FALSE-4 pieces This misinformation was fed to the participant either in a group of 4 or 10. False-group or written in a narrative give to an individual The findings of Gabberts research is reliable as many studies have found similar findings. TRUE

Scenario question In a case of an armed robbery which had ended in a fatality, three witnesses had discussed the events with each other soon afterwards whilst receiving counselling. However, one other witness had rejected the offer of counselling and as a consequence, had not discussed the event with anyone. When witness statements were taken a week after the counselling, it was found that the witness who had rejected support gave a testimony that matched information recorded on CCTV, whereas the three witnesses who had attended counselling had offered statements with significant errors when compared with CCTV evidence. Using psychological research, explain why the single witness gave a more accurate testimony than the three witnesses who had been in counselling. (6 marks)

Suggested model answer Research has shown that post event can have the effect of reducing the accuracy of an eye-witness testimony. The three witnesses who had counselling would have discussed the events, which may have changed their recollections of events, leading to their inaccurate reports. Gabbert et al, (2003) found that when discussing events seen on a video clip in pairs, 71% made at least one error in reporting compared to 0% in a control group. This shows that when discussing the events, more errors are likely to occur, which is seen with the three witnesses who discussed the event in counselling. Additionally, the finding that a control group who had not discussed the event made no errors is demonstrated in this scenario as the individual who rejected counselling gave a more accurate testimony. It can be assumed that this witness’s non-discussion meant that their memories were not distorted by others. One explanation of the inaccuracy of the group statements is that it is due to informational social influence. The witnesses may not have been completely certain about the details of the events, and used each other as a source of information to fill in gaps. This could have led to distortions in their memories and the subsequent inaccurate eyewitness accounts. This did not occur with the witness who did not discuss the events.