What is post-event information?

Post-event information is information received and processed following an event (such as witnessing a crime or a car accident) that has the potential of altering memory of the actual events.

How does post-event information affect eyewitness testimony?

Either way, the postevent information affects one’s memory of the original observed event, and over time, individuals become less able to differentiate between the information that is in their memory because it was actually observed and the information that was introduced after the event by postevent information.

What is an example of misinformation effect?

Examples of the Misinformation Effect When asked the question, ‘How fast were the cars going when they smashed into each other?’ the answer typically involved a higher rate of speed than when the question was phrased, ‘How fast were the cars going when they bumped into each other?’

What are the findings of Elizabeth Loftus?

Her findings were that the mean estimates of the speeds were 32 mph when the question was phrased as the speed that the cars “collided”, 34 mph when the question was phrased as “hit each other” instead, and 41 mph when the question was phrased as “smashed each other”.

Why post event information can affect eyewitness memory?

This study demonstrated that when people are exposed to misleading information (e.g. Page 8 UNCONSCIOUS PROCESSING OF POST-EVENT INFORMATION 7 suggestive questions) after they witnessed an event, their memory for the witnessed event might be distorted by information they come in contact with after the original event.

What is post event contamination?

Post Event Discussion When co-witnesses to a crime discuss the event with each other their eyewitness testimonies may become contaminated. This is because they combine misinformation from other witnesses with their own memories.

What does EWT mean in psychology?

Eyewitness testimony
Eyewitness testimony is a legal term. It refers to an account given by people of an event they have witnessed. For example they may be required to give a description at a trial of a robbery or a road accident someone has seen.

What is misleading information in psychology?

Misleading information is incorrect information given to an eyewitness following an event. This can be during post-event discussion or take the form of leading questions.

What type of data did Loftus and Palmer collect?

Data: Loftus and Palmer obtained quantitative data from their study, this allows for subsequent statistical analysis. Mean speed estimates were calculated, percentages of yes and no responses could also be easily found, results could be represented in graphs charts quite easily.

What is Elizabeth Loftus most known for?

memory
Best Known For Elizabeth Loftus is a contemporary psychologist who is acclaimed for her research in memory. She is best known for these areas: Research on human memory. Eyewitness memory.

Why are EWT important?

Eye witness testimony (EWT) is regularly a deciding factor for courts in the criminal justice system to ‘prove’ the guilt or innocence of the criminally accused. However, inaccuracies in EWT are common, accounting for about 75% of incorrect convictions later found to be innocent using DNA evidence.