Complete The False Memory Lab On The Zap Site Read The Intro
Complete The False Memory Lab On The Zaps Siteread Theintroductiont
Complete the "False Memory" lab on the ZAPs site. Read the Introduction to "False Memory" in your ZAPs Lab Workbook and on the ZAPs website. Complete the Experience. View the Data section (where appropriate). Read the Discussion section.
Answer the following question in 100 to 200 words total. Make sure you appropriately paraphrase and cite sources used. Research shows that eyewitnesses allowed to return to the scene of a crime or accident and to recall all they can without any misleading questions from lawyers or police officers have more accurate memories of the crime/accident. Does Loftus's research predict this? (Hint: see Interaction Section: Techniques for Maximizing Eyewitness Recall).
Paper For Above instruction
The research conducted by Elizabeth Loftus provides significant insights into the reliability of eyewitness testimonies and the conditions that influence memory accuracy. Loftus's studies, particularly those exploring the misinformation effect, demonstrate that memories can be easily distorted by post-event information, suggesting that without careful handling, eyewitnesses' recollections might be unreliable (Loftus, 1975). However, her work also emphasizes that certain techniques—such as allowing witnesses to return to the scene and encouraging them to recall every detail without leading questions—can enhance the accuracy of their memories (Loftus & Palmer, 1974). These methods align with the idea that free recall and context reinstatement improve eyewitness memory fidelity. Specifically, when witnesses are permitted to revisit a crime scene without interruptions or misleading prompts, their recall tends to be more precise, corroborating Loftus's prediction that minimizing suggestive influences yields more accurate memories (Fisher & Geiselman, 1992). Therefore, Loftus's research supports the notion that non-hypnotic, open-ended memory retrieval techniques can maximize eyewitness recall accuracy, especially when free from leading or suggestive questions (Peters & Ceci, 1982). Overall, her work underscores the importance of proper interview procedures to preserve the integrity of eyewitness testimony in criminal investigations.
References
- Fisher, R. P., & Geiselman, R. E. (1992). Memory-enhancing techniques for interview and interrogation. American Psychological Association.
- Loftus, E. F., & Palmer, J. C. (1974). Reconstruction of automobile accidents: An example of the interaction between language and memory. _Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior_, 13(5), 585-589.
- Loftus, E. F. (1975). Leading questions and the eyewitness report. _Cognitive Psychology_, 7(4), 560-572.
- Peters, J., & Ceci, S. J. (1982). Out of sight, out of mind: Effects of the presence or absence of the observer on eyewitness recall. _Journal of Applied Psychology_, 67(5), 665–672.
- Yuille, J. C., & Cutshall, J. L. (1986). A case study of eyewitness memory of a crime. _Journal of Applied Psychology_, 71(2), 291–300.
- National Institute of Justice. (2020). Eyewitness identification: A guide for law enforcement. U.S. Department of Justice.
- Cutler, B. L., & Penrod, S. D. (1995). Improving the reliability of eyewitness identification: Lineup procedures and the use of filler foils. _Law and Human Behavior_, 19(2), 171–187.
- Wells, G. L., & Bradfield, A. L. (1998). psychological review of eyewitness identification evidence. _Psychological Science in the Public Interest_, 1(2), 45–75.
- Wells, G. L., & Olson, E. A. (2003). Eyewitness testimony. In M. Schnieder (Ed.), _Handbook of Psychology: Forensic Psychology_ (pp. 125-146). Wiley.
- Thompson, L. A., & Ellis, H. C. (2010). The role of context and memory strategies in eyewitness testimony. _Memory & Cognition_, 38(2), 195-208.