The Suggestive Influence of Viewing an Intervening Lineup on the Accuracy of Eyewitness Memory

Claremont Graduate University, Claremont CA

Investigators

Abstract

Pezdek SES 991909 This research builds upon a substantial research literature in cognitive psychology on the suggestive effects of "post-event information." It is hypothesized that eyewitness memory in a police line-up, will be affected by such information, leading to certain false positive identifications. The project here is to investigate the conditions under which viewing an intervening lineup is likely to reduce the accuracy of eyewitness memory on a subsequent lineup. There are four experiments using four forensically relevant factors known to relate to memory trace strength: own-race versus cross-race faces, initial exposure time to the target face, retention interval, and age of suspects. The long-term goal of this research is to contribute to the development of theories of memory and explore the dimensions of suggestibility in the every-day setting of police work and courts of law.