Based on the Loftus, et al. (1978) study, subjects viewed a slide presentation of an accident, and some of the subjects were asked a question about a blue car, when the actual slides contained pictures of a green car. When these same subjects were asked about the color of the car at the accident, they were found to be confused. This is an example of the ________.
A) instant replay effect
B) constructive processing effect
C) levels-of-processing effect
D) misinformation effect

Question

Based on the Loftus, et al. (1978) study, subjects viewed a slide presentation of an accident, and some of the subjects were asked a question about a blue car, when the actual slides contained pictures of a green car. When these same subjects were asked about the color of the car at the accident, they were found to be confused. This is an example of the ________.
A) instant replay effect
B) constructive processing effect 
C) levels-of-processing effect
D) misinformation effect

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The phenomenon described in the question is the misinformation effect, which occurs when misleading information affects a person's memory or recall of an event. In this study, the question about the blue car implanted the idea of a blue car in the subjects' minds, which then affected their memory of the actual car color they saw in the slides. The other options (instant replay effect, constructive processing effect, levels-of-processing effect) do not accurately describe the phenomenon at play in this study.

Based on the Loftus, Et Al