Learn: Why Loftus and Palmer Conducted Their 1974 Experiments

Welcome!Today we'll learn about why Loftus and Palmer conducted their 1974 experiments into eyewitness testimony. This topic explores how memory can be influenced by external factors like language.

What is Eyewitness Testimony?Eyewitness testimony refers to people recalling events they witnessed, often used in legal settings. It is important because it can influence court decisions, but research shows that it may not always be reliable.

Why Did Loftus and Palmer Conduct Their Study?Loftus and Palmer wanted to investigate whether the wording of questions could affect people's memory of an event. Specifically, they looked at how leading questions might distort eyewitness recall of details, such as the speed of cars in a collision.

Leading QuestionsA leading question is one that suggests a particular answer. For example, asking 'How fast was the car going when it smashed into the other?' implies a high speed, which may influence the respondent's memory.

How Was Their Study Conducted?Loftus and Palmer showed participants videos of car accidents and then asked them questions about the speed of the vehicles. They used different verbs (e.g., 'hit', 'smashed') in the questions to see if it influenced the participants' estimates.

What Did They Find?Loftus and Palmer found that participants' speed estimates varied based on the verb used. For example, 'smashed' led to higher speed estimates compared to 'hit'. This showed how language can distort memory.

Review Time!Great work understanding Loftus and Palmer's study! Let's summarise and test your knowledge.