Notes

Loftus and Palmer (1974) – Eyewitness Memory Questions
1. Describe the procedure followed in Loftus and Palmer’s first experiment into eyewitness memory. [4]
This was a laboratory experiment with five conditions, only one of which was experienced by each participant (an independent measures experimental design).
7 films of traffic accidents, ranging in duration from 5 to 30 seconds, were presented in a random order to each group.
After watching the film participants were asked to describe what had happened as if they were eyewitnesses.
They were then asked specific questions, including the question “About how fast were the cars going when they (smashed / collided / bumped / hit / contacted) each other?”
Thus, the IV was the wording of the question and the DV was the speed reported by the participants.
2. a) Describe the sample in the first experiment. [2]
45 students from the University of Washington, USA.
b) Outline one limitation of this sample. [2]
This sample only consists of students, they may have a better memory compared to others due to the fact they have to remember and retain information more frequently (for exams). Sample not may not be representative as a consequence and cannot be generalised to total population, affects population validity.
3. Describe the procedure in the second experiment conducted by Loftus and Palmer on eyewitness testimony. [4]
150 students were shown a one minute film which featured a car driving through the countryside followed by four seconds of a multiple traffic accident.
Afterward, the students were questioned about the film. The independent variable was the type of question asked.
It was manipulated by asking 50 students “how fast were the car going when they hit each other?”, another 50 “how fast were the car going when they smashed each other?”, and the remaining 50 participants were not asked a question at all (i.e. the control group).
One week later the dependent variable was measured – without seeing the film again they answered ten questions, one of which was a critical one randomly placed in the list: “Did you see any broken glass? Yes or no?” There was no broken glass on the original film.
4. a) Outline one control used in experiment 1. [2]
All video clips of car accident shown to ppts were between 5-30 seconds long.
b) Explain why it was important to use controls in experiment 1. [2]

5. Outline two findings from the second experiment. [4]

6. a) Identify the independent variable (IV) in the first experiment conducted by Loftus and Palmer on eyewitness testimony. [2]

b) Outline how the independent variable (IV) was manipulated in this study. [2]

7. a) Identify the two experimental groups in Experiment 2. [2]

(b) Outline one difference between the responses given by the two experimental groups in Experiment 2. [2]

Grant et al (1998) – Context-Dependent Memory

1. Identify the two IVs in this study. [2]

2. a) Identify one condition in this study. [1]

b) Outline the results found in this condition of the study. [2]

3. a) In Grant’s study of context-dependent memory, participants had to complete two tests. Identify these two tests. [2]

b) Describe one of the tests you have named in (a) above. [2]

4. a) Describe the sample in this study. [2]

b) Outline one problem with the sample used in this study. [2]

5. Describe one control used in Grant et al’s study into context-dependent memory. [2]

6. To what extent can the study by Grant et al into context-dependent memory be considered valid? [3]

7. To what extent can the study by Grant et al into context-dependent memory be considered reliable? [3]