NCJ Number
148245
Date Published
1992
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Although prosecutors prefer to base their cases against alleged criminals on tangible evidence, eyewitness testimony is sometimes the only evidence that a crime has been committed; the memory of a particular event, however, may be vulnerable to suggestive influence and misinformation.
Abstract
Two studies are reported that found a misinformation effect. In one study, 68 students viewed slides of an office theft and were asked to answer questions about the event; some subjects were deliberately misled. Correct responses of 43 percent for misled items and 63 percent for control items were obtained. In a second study, similar to the first study, 136 students were also shown slides of an office theft. Narratives and test questions in the second study were computer-controlled. The mean percent correct was 59 percent for misled items and 70 percent for control items. Both studies documented a misinformation effect that affects the reliability of eyewitness testimony. Factors influencing suggestibility are examined, and theoretical implications of the misinformation effect are discussed. 26 references and 1 table