Research by Loftus on eyewitness testimony indicates that what people recall of an accident or crime scene
A) is so vivid that it is subject to very little memory error.
B) can be influenced by the types of questions they are asked.
C) can be significantly improved by the use of hypnosis.
D) is distorted by emotion and is completely inaccurate.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Loftus's research on eyewitness testimony has shown that people's memories of an event can be influenced by the way that questions are posed to them. This means that their recollection may not be entirely accurate, and can be affected by outside factors. Therefore, option B is the correct answer. Option A is incorrect because Loftus found that even vivid memories can be subject to error. Option C is incorrect because hypnosis has been shown to actually increase the likelihood of false memories. Option D is also incorrect because it is an overgeneralization; while emotions can impact memory, it does not mean that memories are always completely inaccurate.

Research by Loftus on Eyewitness Testimony Indicates That What People