Loftus and Palmer (1974)

Cognitive Psychology

Assumes an individual's behaviour is controlled by our thought processes. Internal mental processes such as memory and thinking are important features influencing humnan behaviour

Computer Analogy - The mind is an information processes that imputs, stores and outputs information

Scientific research - research should be highly controlled, objective and reliable

Key Theme: Memory (ability to retain and store information). Two types - short term (5-9 items) and long term (limitless)

Schema theory - memory is influenced by what an individual already knows, and that their use of past experiences to deal wiha new experience is a feature of the mind

Links to theory of reconstructed memory

Aim: Investigate effect of leading questions on an individuals ability to accurately remember events. Expected: information subtely introduced after the event would distort original memory

Experiment 2 (Lab experiment)

Experiment 1 (Lab experiment)

Sample: 45 students, USA, independent measures

Procedure: 1 Shown 7 film clips (5-30 sec long) 2 Questionnaire, had to write an account then were asked specific questions with critical question

5 conditions (each contained 9pp). Verb changed: smashed, collided, bumped, hit, contacted

Findings Phrasing of question influenced speed estimation - smashed (40.5), collided (39.3), bumped (38.1), hit (34), contacted (31.8). Additionally, thought 20mph was 37.7mph, thought 30mph was 36.2mph and thought 40mph was 39.7 and 36.1mph

Sample: 150 students from USA, independent measures

IV: Verb used (smashed, hit, collided, contacted, bumped)

DV: speed estimation

IV: Verb used (hit or smashed), third group not asked

DV if the participant believed they saw glass at the scene

Procedure 1 Watched a short 1 minute film of 4 second multiple car accidents 2 Questionnaire and write account then answer some specific questions with critical question

3 conditions (50 pp in each), asked hit, asked smashed and no speed control

1 week later asked critical question - did you see broken glass?

Findings Reported broken glass: Smashed (16 yes, 34 no), Hit (7 yes,43 no) and control (6 yes, 44 no)

Leading question altered memory

Conclusions

Verb used in phrase influences pp response, people aren't good at judging speeds, misleading info can distort memory and reconstructive memory is a concept