Psychology · Year 12 · Memory · 2.º Período

Eyewitness Testimony

An evaluation of the factors affecting the accuracy of eyewitness testimony, including misleading information and anxiety. Students will also learn about the cognitive interview technique used by police.

TL;DR:Eyewitness testimony (EWT) is a critical application of memory research within the legal system. Students examine how factors like leading questions, post-event discussion, and anxiety can distort a witness's recall. The topic features the landmark research of Elizabeth Loftus, which demonstrated the 'misinformation effect' and the fragility of human memory. This is a high-stakes area of psychology that highlights the real-world consequences of cognitive errors.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• AQA 4.1.2.5 Factors affecting the accuracy of eyewitness testimony
• AQA 4.1.2.6 Improving the accuracy of eyewitness testimony

About This Topic

Eyewitness testimony (EWT) is a critical application of memory research within the legal system. Students examine how factors like leading questions, post-event discussion, and anxiety can distort a witness's recall. The topic features the landmark research of Elizabeth Loftus, which demonstrated the 'misinformation effect' and the fragility of human memory. This is a high-stakes area of psychology that highlights the real-world consequences of cognitive errors.

In addition to understanding why EWT fails, students learn about the Cognitive Interview, a technique designed to improve recall accuracy. This connects the theoretical study of memory to practical improvements in police work. The topic encourages students to think critically about the justice system and the reliability of human evidence, aligning with AQA's focus on the application of psychological knowledge.

This topic comes alive when students can physically model the patterns of memory distortion through role plays of police interviews and witness testimonies.

Key Questions

1. How do leading questions alter a witness's memory of an event?
2. Does anxiety have a positive or negative effect on recall?
3. Why is the cognitive interview more effective than standard police interviews?

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Memory works like a video camera.

What to Teach Instead

Emphasise that memory is reconstructive, not reproductive. We fill in gaps with expectations and new information. Using 'spot the difference' tasks after a delay helps students see how their brains 'fill in' missing details incorrectly.

Common Misconception

High anxiety always makes memory worse.

What to Teach Instead

Explain the Yerkes-Dodson law, which suggests that moderate anxiety can actually improve alertness and recall. Comparing laboratory studies with real-life case studies helps students see the complex relationship between stress and memory.

Active Learning Ideas

Mock Trial

The Misleading Witness

Students watch a short clip of a crime. One 'witness' is given leading questions by a 'lawyer' while the other is not. The class then compares their testimonies to see if the leading questions changed the witness's memory.

50 min·Whole Class

Role Play

The Cognitive Interview

In pairs, students take turns being an interviewer and a witness. The interviewer must use the four stages of the cognitive interview (report everything, context reinstatement, reverse order, changed perspective) to gather information about a recent event.

40 min·Pairs

Gallery Walk

Anxiety and Recall

Display different studies on anxiety, such as the 'weapon focus' study and the 'Yuille and Cutshall' real-life shooting study. Students move between stations to evaluate whether anxiety helps or hinders memory in each case.

45 min·Small Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

How do leading questions affect eyewitness testimony?

Leading questions suggest a specific answer (e.g., 'Did you see THE broken headlight?' instead of 'A broken headlight?'). Loftus and Palmer's research showed that even a single word change can alter a person's memory of an event, leading them to 'recall' details that weren't actually there.

What are the four components of the Cognitive Interview?

The four components are: 1. Report everything (even trivial details), 2. Reinstate the context (mental picture of the scene), 3. Reverse the order (start from the end), and 4. Change perspective (imagine the scene from another person's view). These techniques use multiple retrieval paths to access more information.

What is 'weapon focus' in eyewitness research?

Weapon focus is the tendency for witnesses to focus their attention on a weapon during a crime, which reduces their ability to remember other details like the perpetrator's face. This is thought to be caused by the high anxiety and the unusualness of the weapon.

How can active learning help students understand eyewitness testimony?

Active learning, such as mock interviews and witnessing 'staged' events in class, provides immediate proof of memory's fallibility. When students realize they have personally 'misremembered' a detail due to a leading question, the theory becomes undeniable. This hands-on experience builds a deeper, more critical understanding of why the Cognitive Interview is such a necessary tool in the real world.