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

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

man with greasy hands, holding a pen, emerged from next door room

1. no weapon condition

2. 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