1. 1. Post-event information
Eyewitness Testimony
1. Post-event information

2. What we need to learn...
Describe factors that affect eyewitness testimony including post-event information. Describe Bartlett’s (1932) theory of reconstructive memory. Describe research studies of EWT including Loftus and Palmer (1974) NB. This is a classic study.
Learning habits:
Skills:
AND explain how post-event information affects the reliability of EWT. Analyse examples of witness situations and compare situations where testimony may become more or less reliable.
AND predict when witnesses will give unreliable testimony. Evaluate claims made about the unreliability of EWT using evidence from studies and other considerations..

3. Eyewitness testimony and post-event information
Memory is a reconstructive process. Information given to witnesses after the event can the accuracy of witness memory because:
(1) it can trigger the wrong schemas (schema driven errors);
(2) people find it difficult to distinguish between things they encoded at the time and things they encoded later (source monitoring errors).

4. Analysis task: an EWT incident
You identify specific features of the scenario that could affect the reliability of EWT and state whether EWT will be more accurate or less accurate as a result.
You use psychological theory and/or concepts to explain WHY the accuracy of the EWT will be affected.
You JUSTIFY your analysis with REASONS and EVIDENCE.
You consider different POINTS OF VIEW.
You make a JUDGEMENT overall about how likely it is that the witnesses will be accurate.

5. Eyewitness testimony and post-event information
Main claim:
(Mis)leading post-event information increases the number of errors witnesses make, and their errors persist over time.

6. Evaluate the effect on post-event information on eyewitness testimony.
Remember: you must show your knowledge and understanding of the topic through your evaluation, not separately from it.
Plan how you will develop your argument through the essay (Claims - Reasons - Evidence).
Plan how you will include alternative points of view/counterclaims.
Plan how you will reach a conclusion in your response to the question.