Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
To what extent is one cognitive process reliable? (8/22) (LOFTUS ET AL.…
To what extent is one cognitive process reliable? (8/22)
INTRODUCTION
dependant on reliability of cognitive process (memory)
EWT - used in legal systems as evidence in criminal trials
important area of research
EWT = previously viewed as trustworthy + reliable evidence
EWT = legal term - refers to account given by witness of an event
research has demonstrated memory can be distorted + reconstructed
often not reliable + impacts trustworthiness of EWT
LOFTUS + PALMER (1974)
Method:
pp's shown 7 clips of various car crashes
asked to estimate the speed of car during collision
Aim:
investigated effect of leading Q's on EWT of an event
smashed / collided / hit / bumped / contacted
proposed the wording of a Q can influence witnesses memory of an event
5 conditions each using different verb in Q
based on idea that memory = reconstructive process
Results:
pp's speed estimates were influenced by verb used in leading Q
smashed = more severe sounding verb (40.8 mph)
contacted = least severe (31.8 mph)
concluded the wording of Q influences witnesses memory of event
findings can be explained by Bartlett's view of memory = active reconstructive process
the verbs activated slightly different schemas that influenced different speed estimates
LOFTUS ET AL. (1987)
man with greasy hands, holding a pen, emerged from next door room
no weapon condition
weapon condition
Method:
pp's were witnesses of 2 conditions
man emerged holding bloody paper knife
Aim:
investigate weapon-focus effect
pp's asked to identify the man from selection of 50 individuals
demonstrated how 'repression' might affect reliability of EWT
Results:
pp's more accurate in recall from NO weapon condition
concluded that the weapon drew more attention to it than the pen
pp's attention therefore allocated to the weapon not the face
demonstrates unreliability of memory in EWT
shows the more dangerous situation affected their recall of the event
explained by repression
the knife provoked their memory + emotion
CONCLUSION
Loftus et al. (1987) demonstrated effect of repression on memory with weapon/no weapon
Loftus + Palmer (1974) showed pp's speed estimates were influenced by verb used in leading Q
both studies emphasise memory = often not reliable
the studies explored the extent to which cognitive process of memory is reliable
greatly influenced by schemas + dependent on level of repression
underlines EWT should not be valued as trustworthy in legal systems as evidence