Question 1

Sheppard and Vidmar (1980) had some students serve as witnesses to a fight, while others took the roles of lawyers and judges. When they had been interviewed by the defense lawyer, the witnesses

Accepted Answer

The study found that when the witnesses were interviewed by the defense lawyer, they gave testimony that was favorable to the defendant. This suggests that their memory may have been influenced by the questioning and the defense lawyer's arguments, rather than being an accurate representation of what they actually saw.

Question 2

In Wells and Bradfield's study (1999), participants were asked to identify a gunman they had seen on video. After making a false identification but receiving confirming feedback, ___ percent rated their initial certainty as very high.

Accepted Answer

In Wells and Bradfield's study (1999), after making a false identification but receiving confirming feedback, 58 percent of participants rated their initial certainty as very high.

Question 3

In order to promote accurate recall, the "cognitive interview" procedure for questioning eyewitnesses begins with

Accepted Answer

The cognitive interview procedure for questioning eyewitnesses begins with guiding eyewitnesses to visualize the scene in order to promote accurate recall. This technique encourages eyewitnesses to reconstruct details from their memory by imagining the scene from different perspectives and recalling sensory details, rather than relying solely on the questions asked by the interviewer.

Question 4

In Wells and Bradfield's study (1999), participants were asked if feedback from the experimenter had influenced their certainty regarding their identification of the gunman. What percentage of the participants denied any influence of the feedback?

Accepted Answer

In Wells and Bradfield's study, 58% of the participants denied any influence of the feedback on their certainty regarding their identification of the gunman.

Question 5

Which is NOT one of the confidence boosters for eyewitnesses found by Wells and Bradfield?

Accepted Answer

Not getting feedback confirmation after identification of a suspect is not a confidence booster; rather, receiving feedback is what typically boosts confidence.

Question 6

Which of the following eyewitness testimonies is probably the most reliable?

Accepted Answer

Millie's report given immediately after a grocery store robbery is likely the most reliable because it was given immediately after the event and without prior questioning, which could influence her memory. In contrast, Fred's report could potentially be influenced by repeated questioning and the passage of time, and Sue's report may have been influenced by police identification of a suspect.

Question 7

Which of the following can result in an eyewitness gaining confidence?

Accepted Answer

Being asked the same question repeatedly can result in an eyewitness gaining confidence in their recollection of the event. This is known as the "repeated recall effect." The other options do not necessarily lead to an increase in confidence and may even lead to biases in the testimony.

Question 8

Researchers have found that eyewitnesses' accuracy can improve when

Accepted Answer

Sequential presentation of suspects, rather than simultaneous, reduces the likelihood of comparison and relative judgment, leading to more accurate identifications.

Question 9

Young children's susceptibility to the misinformation effect raises the distinct possibility that

Accepted Answer

The susceptibility of young children to the misinformation effect means that there is a possibility that some people have been falsely accused in sex abuse cases. This is because young children may be influenced by leading questions or suggestive interviews, leading them to provide false testimony or accusations.

Question 10

A police interrogator questioning an eyewitness to a robbery hopes to learn whether the assailant was wearing a bright green hat similar to one seen in another robbery. According to research, which of the following questions will elicit the most detailed,
Undistorted recall from the eyewitness?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A police interrogator questioning an eyewitness to...

Question 11

Which one of the following is an indicator that can suggest accuracy in lineup identification?

Accepted Answer

Making a very quick identification is often considered a reliable indicator of accuracy in lineup identifications. This is based on the theory that a quick decision is more likely to be based on a clear memory of the perpetrator, rather than on guessing or slowly reasoning through uncertain memories.

Question 12

Which of the following can distort eyewitness testimony?

Accepted Answer

All of the choices can distort eyewitness testimony.

Suggestive questions can lead witnesses to provide inaccurate or false information. For example, if a police officer asks a witness if they saw the green car speeding away from the scene, the witness may feel pressured to agree, even if they did not see a green car.

An eyewitness's own retelling of events may be influenced by their own biases, emotions, and memory distortions. They may inadvertently add or leave out details or inaccurately interpret events.

Police officers' responses to witness statements can also influence eyewitness testimony. If an officer expresses skepticism or disbelief in a witness's account, the witness may begin to doubt their own memory and change their story to match the officer's expectations.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a recommended strategy for increasing the accuracy of eyewitnesses and jurors?

Accepted Answer

Asking witnesses to scan a lineup of mug shots simultaneously rather than one at a time would actually decrease accuracy as it increases the likelihood of a witness making a false identification or choosing the wrong suspect. The other options - training police interviewers, educating jurors, and using neutral questions - are all recommended strategies for increasing accuracy.

Question 14

In a police lineup, the lineup interviewer's feedback

Accepted Answer

The lineup interviewer's feedback can have a large effect on the witness's confidence. Research has shown that when the interviewer indicates which lineup member they believe is the suspect, it can increase the witness's confidence in their identification and make them less likely to choose someone else in the lineup. This is known as the "feedback effect." It is important for lineup interviewers to avoid giving any feedback that could influence the witness's selection.

Question 15

Wells et al., (1981) had eyewitnesses to a staged theft rehearse their answers to questions before taking the witness stand. Doing so

Accepted Answer

Rehearsing answers before taking the witness stand can lead to increased confidence among those who are incorrect, as the rehearsal process may make them more certain of their (erroneous) recollections.

Question 16

Stan is uncertain about the man he identified as the burglar in a police lineup. His confidence is most likely to increase after

Accepted Answer

Repeated questioning can lead to increased confidence due to reinforcement and the pressure to maintain consistency in responses.

Question 17

Which of the following statements is true of retelling?

Accepted Answer

Retelling events commits people to their recollections, accurate or not. Retelling can solidify a person's memory of an event, even if the details are incorrect. This is known as the "retrieval practice effect." However, it can also increase the likelihood of the person incorporating false information into their recollection, which can lead to the misinformation effect. Therefore, it is important to ensure that retelling is done accurately and without any leading questions or false information.

Question 18

Dunning and Perretta (2002) found that those eyewitnesses who made their identifications _______ were nearly 90 percent accurate.

Accepted Answer

Dunning and Perretta (2002) discovered that eyewitnesses who made their identifications quickly, specifically in less than 10-12 seconds, were nearly 90 percent accurate in their identifications. This finding suggests that initial, quick decisions by eyewitnesses tend to be more reliable.

Question 19

Studies have identified the post-identification feedback effect, and suggest that in order to avoid it,

Accepted Answer

The post-identification feedback effect occurs when feedback given to witnesses after they have made an identification influences their confidence in that identification. To avoid this effect, it is recommended that interrogators conducting the lineup or photo array be unaware of who the suspect is (a procedure known as a "double-blind" lineup), so they cannot inadvertently influence the witness's confidence or decision through verbal or non-verbal cues.

Question 20

The new police interview technique that improves information gathering is called

Accepted Answer

The new police interview technique that improves information gathering is called the cognitive interview. This technique encourages a witness or victim to provide as much detail as possible by asking open-ended questions and using techniques such as context reinstatement and changing the order of events. This results in a more comprehensive and accurate account of the incident.

Quiz 15: Psychological Disorders