Factors affecting the accuracy of eyewitness testimony: misleading information, including leading questions and post-event discussion
Misleading information can distort what an eyewitness remembers. This happens through biased questions during interviews or conversations with other witnesses after an event.
Real World
In Loftus and Palmer's (1974) study, participants who heard the verb 'smashed' estimated car speeds at 41 mph on average, compared to 34 mph for 'contacted' — demonstrating how a single misleading word in a question can significantly alter a witness's memory of an event.
Exam Focus
When evaluating, discuss whether misleading information actually changes the memory or just the reported response — this shows critical analysis.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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