EYE WITNESS TESTIMONY. WHAT IS EYE WITNESS TESTIMONY? Question – write your answer on your...
-
Upload
roxanne-parks -
Category
Documents
-
view
217 -
download
0
Transcript of EYE WITNESS TESTIMONY. WHAT IS EYE WITNESS TESTIMONY? Question – write your answer on your...
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