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The Effect of Leading Questions and Time Elapsed on Eyewitness Accuracy in Identifying a Perpetrator in a Crime

The Effect of Leading Questions and Time Elapsed on Eyewitness Accuracy in Identifying a Perpetrator in a Crime. David Browne, Elizabeth Foster, Elizabeth Jeong, Christine Oppel. Introduction.

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The Effect of Leading Questions and Time Elapsed on Eyewitness Accuracy in Identifying a Perpetrator in a Crime

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  1. The Effect of Leading Questions and Time Elapsed on Eyewitness Accuracy in Identifying a Perpetrator in a Crime David Browne, Elizabeth Foster, Elizabeth Jeong, Christine Oppel

  2. Introduction Eyewitness testimony allows jurors to feel and see a clear picture of a crime that has been committed. • Kebbell & Giles • Ebbinghaus • Nigro & Cicogna

  3. Introduction • Independent Variable One 1. Leading Questions 2. Non-leading Questions • Independent Variable Two 1. Short Distraction 2. Long Distraction • Dependent Variable: Accuracy on the Questionnaire

  4. Hypothesis The accuracy of participants’ answers on the questionnaire will be lower when asked leading questions and with a longer distracting clip.

  5. Participants 56 Female Mount Holyoke Students, ages 18-60, randomly assigned 14 in Leading/Long Condition 15 in Leading/Short Condition 13 in Non/Long Condition 14 in Non/Short Condition Materials Clip of L.A. Confidential Clip of HGTV TV and VCR Questionnaires and Answer Key Consent Form Debriefing Form Method

  6. Method (cont.) Procedure • Participants signed consent form • Watched L.A. Confidential clip • Short or long HGTV clip was shown immediately after • Participants given Leading or Non-leading questionnaires • Participants were debriefed

  7. Results • Dependent Variable: Number of correct answers • Analysis Performed: One-way 2X2 ANOVA

  8. Results • Marginally significant main effect for question type such that participants who filled out non leading questionnaires a had marginally higher accuracy than participants who filled out leading questionnaires (p = .075). • No significant main effect for length of distraction. • No significant interaction between type of questionnaire and length of distractions.

  9. Results (cont)

  10. Discussion • Hypothesis not supported. • The question type was marginally significant, but not at the p<.05 level • Disagrees with Kebbell & Giles and Ebbinghaus • Agrees with Nigro & Cicogna

  11. Discussion (Implications) Lawyers should not use leading questions because it may influence the accuracy of witnesses’ responses

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