In the study led by Elizabeth Loftus,two groups of observers were asked how fast two cars had been going in a filmed traffic accident.Observers who heard the vividly descriptive word smashed in relation to the accident later recalled
A) glass fragments at the scene of the accident.
B) that the drivers of the vehicles were intoxicated.
C) that the drivers of the vehicles were males.
D) the details of the accident with vivid accuracy.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The study found that observers who heard the word "smashed" were more likely to recall seeing glass fragments at the scene of the accident, even though there were none present in the video. This demonstrates the power of suggestive language in influencing memory recall. The study did not find any evidence that hearing the word "smashed" influenced recall of the drivers' gender or alleged intoxication, nor did it find evidence of increased accuracy in recall.

In the Study Led by Elizabeth Loftus,two Groups of Observers