What Affects Eye Witness Testimony?

2.

What type of memory is eyewitness memory?

Short term
Long term

Correct Answer

A. Short term

Explanation

Eyewitness memory is not short term memory. It refers to the ability of an individual to recall events or details of a witnessed incident. It is a form of long-term memory that involves the encoding, storage, and retrieval of information over a prolonged period. Eyewitness memory can be influenced by various factors such as the passage of time, stress, and external influences, which can affect its accuracy. Therefore, the correct answer is long term memory.

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3.

Which of the following is TRUE?

An eyewitness is better able to identify a good looking person (compared with ugly person) because they would look at a good looking person longer.
An eyewitness is better able to identify an ugly person (compared with good looking person) because they would look at a uglylooking person longer.

Correct Answer

A. An eyewitness is better able to identify a good looking person (compared with ugly person) because they would look at a good looking person longer.

Explanation

An eyewitness is better able to identify a good looking person (compared with an ugly person) because they would look at a good looking person longer. This is because people tend to pay more attention to attractive individuals and are more likely to remember their features. This phenomenon, known as the "halo effect," suggests that our perception of someone's physical attractiveness can influence our overall impression of them and our memory of their appearance. Therefore, an eyewitness is more likely to accurately identify a good looking person due to the increased attention and memory encoding associated with attractiveness.

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4.

Which is considered more accurate (with less false identifications)?

Simultaneous
Sequential (one at a time)

Correct Answer

A. Sequential (one at a time)

Explanation

One at a time (simultaneous)
Prevents comparison between suspects – avoids the “multiple choice test”.

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5.

Choose ALL that apply:Which of the following would result in INCREASED false identifications?

Police tell the witness: "It is OK to say, 'I don't know'"
Police talk to witness ASAP.
The police ask open-ended questions.
The police show a simultaneous photo array followed by a simultaneous live line up.

Correct Answer

A. The police show a simultaneous photo array followed by a simultaneous live line up.

Explanation

Sequential (one at a time) are more accurate than simultaneous.
When both photo array and then lineup is used, this increases the chance of false identification because the witness is comparing the live lineup to their more recent memory -- the photo lineup and NOT the crime.

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1

6.

Choose ALL that apply: Which of the following would adversely (negatively) affect identification of a suspect? Choose ALL that apply.

Sunglasses on the suspect
Hood/hat
Sunny day
Mask
Poor lighting

Correct Answer(s)

A. Sunglasses on the suspect
A. Hood/hat
A. Mask
A. Poor lighting

Explanation

Sunglasses, a hood/hat, and a mask can all adversely affect the identification of a suspect as they can obscure the person's facial features and make it difficult for witnesses to accurately describe their appearance. Poor lighting can also make it challenging to see and identify a suspect properly. The sunny day, however, would not directly affect the identification of a suspect as it does not obstruct the visibility of the person's face.

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7.

Which of the following is NOT true?

Children generally make unreliable witnesses
The longer the exposure to the crime/criminal, the better the identification.
Witnesses are generally better at recognizing their own-race faces than other races.
A person that is confident in their identification is more accurate
Witnesses are better at comparing relative height than determining absolute height.

Correct Answer

A. A person that is confident in their identification is more accurate

Explanation

Confidence in identification does not necessarily correlate with accuracy. A person may be confident in their identification but still be incorrect. Confidence can be influenced by various factors such as suggestion, stress, and personal biases. Therefore, a person who is confident in their identification is not necessarily more accurate.

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What Affects Eye Witness Testimony?

Which of the following is TRUE?

Quiz Preview

What type of memory is eyewitness memory?

Which of the following is TRUE?

Which is considered more accurate (with less false identifications)?

Choose ALL that apply:Which of the following would result in INCREASED false identifications?

Choose ALL that apply: Which of the following would adversely (negatively) affect identification of a suspect? Choose ALL that apply.

Which of the following is NOT true?