Misinformation Effect and How It Works: An Analysis of Dr Elizabeth Loftus' Study on Eye-Witness Interviews
Misinformation Effect and Howe does it Work
A well-documented research by an influential psychologist named Dr. Elizabeth Loftus, suggested that interviews can actually lead to tremendous errors in eyewitness testimony. Additionally, for many years researchers have also suspected that forensic interview methods highly influence eyewitness testimonies which are a major cause of inaccuracies. Eyewitnesses could be led to give reports of objects of events they did not actually experience. This debate about why the misinformation effect takes place has challenged dominant views in regards to the validity of memory and had raised concerns about the reliability of eyewitness testimony. Furthermore, early demonstrations of the effects of questioning did exhibit various ways in which eyewitness testimony could be influenced (Lotus, 2005).
In an experimental paradigm introduced by Loftus, individuals observe a sequence of slides portraying a difficult and forensic occurrence such as a theft at a small convenience gas station. Thereafter, the individuals (witnesses) are immediately questioned about the robbery that took place. In her experiment the questioning included leading and misleading information that was used for manipulation; and, afterwards the witnesses were tested on their memory and what they had witnessed. One of the dependent variables was the extent of which the misleading suggestions led to giving misleading reports. This experiment was also compared to a controlled group of participants that were not misled (Lotus, 2005). However, researchers have also proposed and debated three other hypotheses responsible for explaining the misinformation effect. According to Pozzulo, Bennel, and Forth, (2013) they also suggest the misinformation acceptance hypothesis (as stated in McCloskey & Zaragoza, 1985) which explains how a witness will give or guess the answer they think the experimenter wants to hear; this is also results in misinformation effect. Other
A well-documented research by an influential psychologist named Dr. Elizabeth Loftus, suggested that interviews can actually lead to tremendous errors in eyewitness testimony. Additionally, for many years researchers have also suspected that forensic interview methods highly influence eyewitness testimonies which are a major cause of inaccuracies. Eyewitnesses could be led to give reports of objects of events they did not actually experience. This debate about why the misinformation effect takes place has challenged dominant views in regards to the validity of memory and had raised concerns about the reliability of eyewitness testimony. Furthermore, early demonstrations of the effects of questioning did exhibit various ways in which eyewitness testimony could be influenced (Lotus, 2005).
In an experimental paradigm introduced by Loftus, individuals observe a sequence of slides portraying a difficult and forensic occurrence such as a theft at a small convenience gas station. Thereafter, the individuals (witnesses) are immediately questioned about the robbery that took place. In her experiment the questioning included leading and misleading information that was used for manipulation; and, afterwards the witnesses were tested on their memory and what they had witnessed. One of the dependent variables was the extent of which the misleading suggestions led to giving misleading reports. This experiment was also compared to a controlled group of participants that were not misled (Lotus, 2005). However, researchers have also proposed and debated three other hypotheses responsible for explaining the misinformation effect. According to Pozzulo, Bennel, and Forth, (2013) they also suggest the misinformation acceptance hypothesis (as stated in McCloskey & Zaragoza, 1985) which explains how a witness will give or guess the answer they think the experimenter wants to hear; this is also results in misinformation effect. Other