ERIC Number: EJ1371381
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0888-4080
EISSN: EISSN-1099-0720
Available Date: N/A
A Stronger Memory for the Perpetrator May Attenuate Effects of the Identification Procedure on Eyewitness Accuracy
Carlson, Curt A.; Lockamyeir, Robert F.; Wooten, Alex R.; Jones, Alyssa R.; Carlson, Maria A.; Hemby, Jacob A.
Applied Cognitive Psychology, v37 n2 p419-432 Mar-Apr 2023
The identification procedure can greatly affect eyewitness performance, but this may be contingent upon a relatively weak memory for the perpetrator. In a large preregistered experiment (N = 13,728), we manipulated memory strength and tested participants with a target-present or -absent showup or lineup (size 3 or 6). All fillers were description-matched but were of low or high similarity with the target. We replicated the advantage of fair simultaneous lineups over showups and the advantage of low- over high-similarity fillers when memory for the perpetrator's face was weaker (short exposure duration), but both effects were significantly reduced when memory was stronger. There was no effect of lineup size regardless of memory strength or filler similarity. We conclude that some recommendations to police may be more robust than others across changes in estimator variables such as memory strength and that more research is needed on interactions between estimator and system variables.
Descriptors: Informed Consent, Memory, Observation, Accuracy, Audiences, Human Body, Crime, Criminals
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institute of Justice (NIJ) (DOJ)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: 2018R2CX0027
Data File: URL: https://osf.io/m9d2a/?view_only=9b27237469f64cdf91d5a285e7cb1717
Author Affiliations: N/A