Question 1

Recent DNA exoneration cases have revealed the most common cause of mistaken convictions to be

Accepted Answer

Recent DNA exoneration cases have revealed that inaccurate eyewitness identification is the leading cause of wrongful convictions. In fact, approximately 70% of wrongful convictions overturned by DNA evidence were due to eyewitness misidentification. Factors such as poor lighting, stress, and the influence of suggestion can all contribute to inaccurate eyewitness identifications.

Question 2

Research concerning eyewitness testimony has demonstrated that

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that juries are often not well-informed about factors that can influence eyewitness accuracy, such as the potential for memory distortions or the effects of cross-racial identification. This lack of understanding can make it more difficult for jurors to properly evaluate eyewitness testimony. Choices A and B are not supported by research, as confident eyewitnesses are not necessarily more accurate and eyewitness identifications can be influenced by situational biases. Choice D is also incorrect, as research has shown that many judges and lawyers are not fully aware of the limitations of eyewitness testimony.

Question 3

The tendency for people to be more accurate at recognizing members of their own racial group than of other groups is called the

Accepted Answer

C

Question 4

Among the following, which most accurately summarizes an important point of controversy that has been debated among researchers who study reconstructive memory?

Accepted Answer

The controversy debated among researchers who study reconstructive memory is whether post-event information actually alters a witness's real memory or affects only the reporting of the memory. Some researchers believe that the influence of post-event information can actually alter a witness's memory of the event, whereas others believe that the original memory trace remains intact, and post-event information merely influences how the witness reports the memory.

Question 5

Prida has witnessed a violent crime involving a knife.Research suggests that he will be less likely to identify the culprit than in a situation where no knife was present because Prida will

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that witnesses tend to focus on a weapon present during a crime, a phenomenon known as "weapon focus effect," leading to reduced ability to remember other details such as the perpetrator's appearance.

Question 6

After Natalie testifies in court that she witnessed the defendant committing the crime in question, a memory expert is called to testify on behalf of the defense.The expert testifies that Natalie's ability to encode the information accurately was probably impaired.Which of the following circumstances did the expert most likely have in mind when he questioned Natalie's ability to acquire the information accurately?

Accepted Answer

The expert likely referred to the weapon-focus effect, which suggests that the presence of a weapon can distract a witness and impair their ability to encode other details of the event accurately.

Question 7

Research on children's memory for events demonstrates that

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that repetitive questioning can lead to children incorporating false information into their memories or changing their original recollection of events. This is known as the "repeated questioning effect" and makes children more susceptible to suggestion than adults.

Question 8

When Valentine and Mesout (2009)fitted visitors to the London Dungeon with a wireless heat monitor, they found that

Accepted Answer

Higher heart rates were associated with less accurate eyewitness identification, indicating that increased arousal or stress can impair memory accuracy.

Question 9

Eyewitnesses' reports of crime details can be altered by exposure to post-event information.This results from

Accepted Answer

The reconstructive nature of memory refers to the fact that eyewitnesses may recall details of a crime differently than they actually occurred, based on post-event information they may be exposed to. This can lead to inaccuracies in eyewitness testimony. The other options (peremptory challenges, normative influence pressures, positive coercion bias) are not related to the phenomenon described in the question.

Question 10

Emily has just witnessed a violent crime.She is very worked up about it.In this physiological state, Emily is likely to focus on all of the following except the

Accepted Answer

In a highly emotional state, individuals tend to focus on the most salient aspects of the situation. In the case of witnessing a violent crime, Emily is likely to focus on the weapon, culprit, and victim. The setting may not be as relevant or significant to her in this highly charged moment.

Question 11

The own-race identification bias

Accepted Answer

The own-race identification bias is consistent with the concept of outgroup homogeneity, which is the tendency to perceive members of an outgroup as more similar to each other than to members of one's own group. This bias can lead to difficulties in accurately identifying individuals from other racial groups.

Question 12

Loftus and Palmer (1974)manipulated the wording of questions posed to participants who witness a filmed traffic accident.Their findings suggest that

Accepted Answer

Loftus and Palmer found that the wording of questions affected the participants' memory for the accident, suggesting that the language used in questioning can shape people's memories of an event. This is known as the misinformation effect.

Question 13

Cathy witnesses a carjacking.A few days later, she is called to the police station to identify the culprit from a lineup.Cathy is most likely to be accurate if

Accepted Answer

Sequential lineups, where suspects are presented one at a time, tend to reduce misidentification rates compared to simultaneous lineups, where all suspects are viewed together.

Question 14

Stark and colleagues (2010)showed participants slides of a man stealing a woman's wallet and slipping it in his jacket.Then an auditory recording recounted the event, stating that the wallet had been slipped into his pants.The results showed that

Accepted Answer

The study showed that false memories tended to occur in the auditory cortex. This is because participants were more likely to remember information from the auditory recording, even if it contradicted what they saw in the visual slides.

Question 15

Which of the following has not been shown to bias a child's memory report?

Accepted Answer

All of the other options (A, B, and C) have been shown to bias a child's memory report. However, questioning in a group setting has not been directly linked to memory report bias.

Question 16

A witness's consumption of alcohol is most likely to pose problems for the _____ of memory.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A witness's consumption of alcohol is most...

Question 17

The tendency for the presence of a weapon to draw attention and impair a witness's ability to identify a culprit is called the

Accepted Answer

The tendency described in the question is known as the weapon-focus effect. This effect occurs when the focus of a witness's attention is heightened by the presence of a weapon in a crime scene, which then impairs their ability to accurately identify other details, such as the culprit.

Question 18

The tendency for false post-event information to become integrated into a person's memory for the event is called the

Accepted Answer

The tendency for false post-event information to become integrated into a person's memory for the event is referred to as the misinformation effect.

Question 19

Waleska is a social psychologist who studies the legal system.Which of the following objectives would she be least likely to pursue in her research?

Accepted Answer

While Waleska's research may touch on the connection between mental health and criminal behavior, identifying the types of psychological disorders most likely to lead people to engage in criminal behavior would be more in the realm of clinical psychology than social psychology and would not directly relate to the legal system. The other objectives listed are all relevant to Waleska's field of study.

Question 20

Tony, Silvio, Paulie, and Christopher were all in the convenience store when it was robbed.Who is likely to be the most reliable eyewitness?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Tony, Silvio, Paulie, and Christopher were all...

Quiz 12: Law