EYE WITNESS TESTIMONY

WHAT IS EYE WITNESS TESTIMONY?

Question – write your answer on your mini-whiteboards – Question – write your answer on your mini-whiteboards – What is What is

an Eyewitness Testimony?an Eyewitness Testimony?

AQA Definition: The evidence given in court or in AQA Definition: The evidence given in court or in

a police investigation by someone who who has a police investigation by someone who who has

witnessed a crime or and accident.witnessed a crime or and accident.

1. HOW ACCURATE IS A PERSONS EWT?

30 Years’ of research suggests that EWT is highly unreliable.30 Years’ of research suggests that EWT is highly unreliable.

Wells (1998) Wells (1998) studied 40 people who were convicted, then studied 40 people who were convicted, then

released by conclusive DNA evidence. More than 90% were released by conclusive DNA evidence. More than 90% were

wrongly convicted by inaccurate eyewitness testimony.wrongly convicted by inaccurate eyewitness testimony.

Sadly, it was too late for 5 of these people…Sadly, it was too late for 5 of these people…

WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS

Ronald Cotton spent 11 years in prison for two counts of rape Ronald Cotton spent 11 years in prison for two counts of rape

which he didn’t commit. He was picked out of a line up two which he didn’t commit. He was picked out of a line up two

victims who misidentified him.victims who misidentified him.

Bobby Poole later confessed to two counts of rape.Bobby Poole later confessed to two counts of rape.

CAN YOU SPOT THE MURDERER?

YOU HAVE NOW WITNESSED A MURDER…

Task – On your mini-whiteboards write down EVERYTHING you Task – On your mini-whiteboards write down EVERYTHING you

can remember about the murderer?can remember about the murderer?

What did he/she look like?What did he/she look like?

What were they wearing?What were they wearing?

Etc…Etc…

CAN YOU CORRECTLY IDENTIFY THE CRIMINAL…

Now you have a go at being an eye witnesses. Can you pick out Now you have a go at being an eye witnesses. Can you pick out

the criminal from an identity parade? the criminal from an identity parade?

http://www.open2.net/eyewitness/line_up_graham_pike.html

WHAT FACTORS AFFECT THE ACCURACY OF EWT?

Question: Question: In group, consider why it was so difficult for you (the In group, consider why it was so difficult for you (the

eye-witness) to identify the criminal…then write (on your mini-eye-witness) to identify the criminal…then write (on your mini-

whiteboards) what factors can affect the accuracy of EWT…whiteboards) what factors can affect the accuracy of EWT…

THE FACTORS…

For you exam, you will need to understand how three For you exam, you will need to understand how three

different factors affect the reliability of EWT, including:different factors affect the reliability of EWT, including:

Anxiety Anxiety

Age of WitnessAge of Witness

Misleading informationMisleading information

WHAT PART OF THE PICTURE DO YOUR EYES FOCUS ON?

You will now see a series of pictures. Try to You will now see a series of pictures. Try to

remember what part of the picture your eyes focus remember what part of the picture your eyes focus

on, when you see each of the pictures…on, when you see each of the pictures…

WHAT PART OF THE PICTURE DO YOUR EYES FOCUS ON?

THE WEAPON FOCUS EFFECT

Where the witness focuses all their attention on the Where the witness focuses all their attention on the

weapon being used, they have difficulties weapon being used, they have difficulties

remembering the other details of the event.remembering the other details of the event.

LOFTUS (1979)

ACTIVITY

Read Loftus (1979 and answer the following questions:Read Loftus (1979 and answer the following questions:

What was the aim of her experiment?What was the aim of her experiment?

What was the independent variable in the experiment?What was the independent variable in the experiment?

What was the dependent variable ?What was the dependent variable ?

Write a directional hypothesis for the experiment (taking into Write a directional hypothesis for the experiment (taking into

account the weapon focus effect)account the weapon focus effect)

ANSWERS

Aim: Aim: To see if anxiety effects EWTTo see if anxiety effects EWT

IV: IV: The two situations observed (weapon vs. no weapon)The two situations observed (weapon vs. no weapon)

DV: DV: The % of participants that could accurately identify the man The % of participants that could accurately identify the man

walking out of the laboratory.walking out of the laboratory.

Directional Hypothesis: Directional Hypothesis: Participants exposed to the situation Participants exposed to the situation

involving a weapon will make less accurate identifications of the involving a weapon will make less accurate identifications of the

man compared to participants exposed to the situation involving man compared to participants exposed to the situation involving

no weapon.no weapon.

EVALUATING LOFTUS (1979) ‘THE WEAPON

EFFECT’

EVALUATING RESEARCH

Methodological IssuesMethodological Issues

Sample issuesSample issues

Ethical issuesEthical issues

Any problems with the method (procedure) of the study e.g. the tasks they had to do or where the study was carried out.

Did the psychologist adhere to the code of ethics?

Are there any problems with the sample.

EVALUATING RESEARCH

Methodological IssuesMethodological Issues

Sample issuesSample issues

Ethical issuesEthical issues

Her study was artificial, why? Thus, we say it lacked ecological validity.

May have caused distress to participants when they saw the blooded knife-protection from harm.

Participants were all from America. Thus, we say her sample lacked population validity. Ethnocentric sample.

YOUR TURN TO EVALUATE IN GROUPS…

1) Summaries your study – aim, method, result and 1) Summaries your study – aim, method, result and

conclusion (in less than 100 words).conclusion (in less than 100 words).

2) Evaluate your study using the headings…2) Evaluate your study using the headings…

Methodological issuesMethodological issues

Sample issuesSample issues

Ethical issuesEthical issues

Use your notes and text books to help youUse your notes and text books to help you Table 1 - Bower’s study Table 2 - Milgram's study Table 3 - Peterson & Peterson’s study Table 4 - Miller’s study Table 5 -Bahrick’s study