PSYC 2400 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Police Lineup, Recognition Memory, Free Recall
25 May 2018
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Unit 5: Eyewitness
Section 1: Memory & Eyewitness Research
Memory
• Perception → Encoding → Short-term → Long-term → Retrieval
Types of Memory
• 2 types of memory retrieval:
o recall memory – reporting details of previously witnessed event/person
o recognition memory – reporting whether current info is the same as previous
info (i.e., lineups)
Eyewitness Research
• variety of research methods:
o archival data
o naturalistic environments
o laboratory simulations (most common)
Independent Variables
• 2 types of independent variables:
o estimator variables – variables that cannot be changed (age of witness, lighting,
etc.)
o system variables – variables that can vary (questioning techniques, lineup
procedure, etc.)
Dependent Variables
• 3 types of dependent variables
o recall of the event
o recall of the perpetrator
o recognition of the culprit
Recall of the Event
• 2 Forms of recall:
o open ended: recount without being prompted
▪ write or say all they can remember
o direct question: witness asked specific questions
Examining Recall Info
• amount of info they provided
• type of info (central or peripheral)
• accuracy of the info (failed to be reported, or falsely recorded)
Recognition Info
• typically, police lineup
o photos, voice, etc.
• accuracy
o correctly identify the culpit, o oetl state the ulpit ist thee
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
• type of errors
o idetifig soeoe ho ist the ulpit, o saig the aet thee he the
are
Section 2: Recall Procedures
Police Questioning
• Limited ability to collect info:
o Interrupted witnesses during free recall
▪ Distracts them; memory gets interrupted and thus detail can get lost
o Asked short, specific questions
▪ Results in short answers
o Asked off-topic questions
▪ Witness is only responding to the questions, so info not asked about may
not come up
▪ “houldt e i ado ode, i.e., ask aout oie he talkig aout
clothing
o Asked leading questions
▪ Can produce inaccurate details
Wording of Questions
• “ashed s. Cotated
o reported higher speeds when word smashed was used
• Affects future recall
• Wording of question matters
o People recalled seeing broken glass more when used the word smashed, even
though thee ast at all
▪ Memory changed because of the way the question was asked/worded
Misinformation Effect
• Witness is provided with inaccurate info
• Iopoates the isifoatio i late eall
• Implications:
o False or added info provided after event can influence memory
o “utle phasig diffeees sashed s. hit a ias itesses esposes
▪ Memory is reconstructive & easily influenced
Explaining Misinformation
• 3 theories:
o Acceptable hypothesis
▪ Guess the answer that is expected to be given
o Source Misattribution hypothesis
▪ Able to recall both memories (accurate & new inaccurate), so they may
choose the wrong one
o Memory Impairment hypothesis
▪ The original memory is replaced
Helping the Police Interview
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Memory: perception encoding short-term long-term retrieval. Types of memory: 2 types of memory retrieval, recall memory reporting details of previously witnessed event/person, recognition memory reporting whether current info is the same as previous info (i. e. , lineups) Eyewitness research: variety of research methods, archival data, naturalistic environments laboratory simulations (most common) Independent variables: 2 types of independent variables, estimator variables variables that cannot be changed (age of witness, lighting, etc. , system variables variables that can vary (questioning techniques, lineup procedure, etc. ) Dependent variables: 3 types of dependent variables, recall of the event, recall of the perpetrator, recognition of the culprit. Recall of the event: 2 forms of recall, open ended: recount without being prompted, write or say all they can remember, direct question: witness asked specific questions. Examining recall info: amount of info they provided, accuracy of the info (failed to be reported, or falsely recorded) type of info (central or peripheral)
