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 35 participants 45 participants
2. Loftus and Palmer 1974 how did they retrieve ps responses Questionnaire Interview Video feedback
3. Loftus and Palmer 1974 what was the ‘critical question’ about? The stop sign The speed of the car The barn
4. Loftus and Palmer 1974 fastest estimate Approx 61 mph Approx 51 mph Approx 41 mph
5. Loftus and Palmer 1974 slowest estimate Approx 10 mph Approx 20 mph Approx 30 mph
6. Loftus and Palmer 1974 type of experiment lab field natural
7. Loftus 1975 what was the control group asked? How fast was the white sports car going when it was travelling along the country road? How fast was the white sports car going when it passed the stop sign whilst travelling along the country road? 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? How fast was the white sports car going when it was travelling along the country road? How fast was the white sports car going when it passed the stop sign whilst travelling along the country road? 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? 14% 18% 17%
10. Loftus 1975 type of experiment lab field natural
What role does Anxiety play in EWT? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmskTb ZIAms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc36eI2J AYI
Do you think anxiety would improve or impair recall?
Contradictory Evidence! Johnson and Scott (77) The Weapon Effect Christianson and Hubinette (1993) Real Life Robberies Read the studies and identify the features.
Anxiety: Anxiety leads to decreased accuracy... Loftus 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
AO3 Discussions/Evaluation Loftus Weapon Effect Lab Experiment Christianson and Hubinette Natural Experiment
Anxiety and EWT: Comparing the two studies... Loftus’ Weapon Effect Christianson and Hubinette (1993) Ecological validity Ethics Consequentiality
Outline and Evaluate research into how anxiety can influence the accuracy of EWT (16 Marks) AO1- Johnson and Scott 1977 (Weapon Effect) AO1- Christian and Hubinette 1993 (real-life robberies) Aim: Aim: Procedure Procedure Findings Findings Conclusions Conclusions AO3 P 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? 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?
Picking out of a line up... Pick the bomber... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7EpYlKa BM8&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 pre-experimental 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