Key Question
Key Question -
- Is
Is eyewitness
eyewitness testimonies
testimonies
reliable?
reliable?
1. State the key question
2. Define eyewitness testimonies
3. Explain why it is important to investigate
4. Give a real life example - case study of Ronald Cotton
5. Reconstructive theory
6. Loftus and Palmer
7.MSM - elaborative rehearsal
Reconstructive:
Loftus and Palmer: MSM:
In Bartlett’s reconstructive memory
Loftus and Palmer’s study suggests The MSM shows that information
(1932), he states that memory is not
that eye witness testimonies aren’t from the STM is transferred to the
a passive and faithful record of what
reliable because people don’t always LTM when elaborative rehearsal
we experience. We reconstruct
recall what they see accurately. occurs for a long period of time.
memories rather than reproducing
There are many implications how When major/shocking events occur
them and our schemas come into
memory may change by the way in in life, we tend to replay the scenario
play when we ‘fill in the gaps’ to
which a question is phrased. They got multiple times which is an example of
help information make sense. This
participants to watch a car accident elaborative rehearsal which is
can be seen in Ronald Cotton’s case
and gave 4 different words on how solidified in the LTM. Elaborative
study when Jenifer reconstructed his
the perceived the MPH at which the rehearsal is useful in society as it
face and couldn’t remember it
cars collided, (hit, smash, bump and transfers information into the LTM
accurately, her schema came into
contact). They discovered that which has a duration of 50+ years.
play. This shows that ETWs are
individuals schemas impact what they Therefore EWTs are reliable s the
unreliable because the witnesses
have seen. This suggests society memory has been permanently stored
don’t correctly reproduce memories;
shouldn’t completely trust EWTs as in the LTM and therefore accurate as
and could put the wrong person in
they aren’t reliable. it is hard to forget.
jail.
Conclusion:
Based on this information, it is evident that EWTs are reliable as elaborative rehearsal occurs in the LTM making the memories
accurate and permanent. However this is not always the case as sometimes our schemas come into play and can change the
memory, making it different from how it actually happened. Therefore, we can continue to study EWTs to contribute to
society.
Key Question -
- Is
Is eyewitness
eyewitness testimonies
testimonies
reliable?
reliable?
1. State the key question
2. Define eyewitness testimonies
3. Explain why it is important to investigate
4. Give a real life example - case study of Ronald Cotton
5. Reconstructive theory
6. Loftus and Palmer
7.MSM - elaborative rehearsal
Reconstructive:
Loftus and Palmer: MSM:
In Bartlett’s reconstructive memory
Loftus and Palmer’s study suggests The MSM shows that information
(1932), he states that memory is not
that eye witness testimonies aren’t from the STM is transferred to the
a passive and faithful record of what
reliable because people don’t always LTM when elaborative rehearsal
we experience. We reconstruct
recall what they see accurately. occurs for a long period of time.
memories rather than reproducing
There are many implications how When major/shocking events occur
them and our schemas come into
memory may change by the way in in life, we tend to replay the scenario
play when we ‘fill in the gaps’ to
which a question is phrased. They got multiple times which is an example of
help information make sense. This
participants to watch a car accident elaborative rehearsal which is
can be seen in Ronald Cotton’s case
and gave 4 different words on how solidified in the LTM. Elaborative
study when Jenifer reconstructed his
the perceived the MPH at which the rehearsal is useful in society as it
face and couldn’t remember it
cars collided, (hit, smash, bump and transfers information into the LTM
accurately, her schema came into
contact). They discovered that which has a duration of 50+ years.
play. This shows that ETWs are
individuals schemas impact what they Therefore EWTs are reliable s the
unreliable because the witnesses
have seen. This suggests society memory has been permanently stored
don’t correctly reproduce memories;
shouldn’t completely trust EWTs as in the LTM and therefore accurate as
and could put the wrong person in
they aren’t reliable. it is hard to forget.
jail.
Conclusion:
Based on this information, it is evident that EWTs are reliable as elaborative rehearsal occurs in the LTM making the memories
accurate and permanent. However this is not always the case as sometimes our schemas come into play and can change the
memory, making it different from how it actually happened. Therefore, we can continue to study EWTs to contribute to
society.
