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Dixon (2002) - Accents of Guilt (Method (IVs (Brummie vs standard accent,…
Dixon (2002) - Accents of Guilt
Aim
To investigate whether a Brummie suspect would cause stronger attributions of guilt than standard accented suspect
To investigate the influence of the race of the suspect & type of crime committed
Participants
119 white undergrad psych students from Uni of Worcester
24m 95f mean age 25.2 y.o
Ps participated as a requirement of their degree
Ps from Brim were excluded from sample as a Brummie accent was investigated
Method
Ps listened to a 2 minute tape recorded conversation based on a real transcript of a police interview that took place in 1995
Diff versions of tape depending on condition ps was in
Ps listened to a police officer interrogating a young man who was pleading innocent of a crime of which he was a suspect of
IVs
Brummie vs standard accent
White collar crime (cheque fraud) vs blue (armed robbery) - described by officer
Black vs white (described by officer)
Afterwards ps were asked to rate suspect from innocent to guilty
Results
Brummie suspect was rated lower on superiority
The Brummie suspect was rated as more guilty
Combination of Brummie accent/black suspect/blue collar crime had a significantly higher guilt attributions compared to other combinations
Conclusions
Cognitive attributions of guilt may be affected by accent
Non standard English speakers are perceived as guiltier than standard speakers
Brummie accent are more likely to be perceived as guilty of an offence to standard accent suspects
BBB more likely to be perceived as guilty