Loftus and Palmer (1974)

1. Loftus and Palmer (1974)

2. Loftus and Palmer (1974) • Reconstruction of automobile destruction: an example of the interaction between language and memory • Field of psychology: Cognitive • Type of study: Laboratory experiment

3. Aim and Context “I do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”

4. Why is it important? • The Innocence project • An organisation which works to clear the names of wrongly convicted people • They claim that eyewitness misidentification is the greatest single cause of wrongful convictions in the USA, convictions that were later overturned by DNA evidence. • The study by Loftus and Palmer took place in 1974. Why is this relevant to the context?

5. Carmichael (1932) • You have a minute to remember the pictures on the page • When the minute is up, you should turn your page over, and wait for me to tell you to reproduce the images. • Compare your drawing with your partners. Are there any differences? How do we explain these results?

6. Carmichael (1932) • Carmichael’s experiment suggests that memory is not always accurate. • Memory is reconstructed from the different elements (the pictures and the words) • Also, this experiment suggests that language (the verbal labels) can alter our recall.

7. Marshall (1969) • Air Force personnel, observed a car travelling at 12 mph. • Their estimates ranged from 10 to 50 mph. • Range in answers possibly due to leading questions. • These results also show us that humans are poor at estimating speed.

8. Filmore (1971) • Suggested that the words smashed and hit may imply different rates of speed. • These words lead the listener to assume different consequences to the impacts to which they are referring, with hit being perceived as gentler than smashed.

9. Aims • Loftus and Palmer’s experiment was actually two experiments. • They wanted to investigate in general how accurate or inaccurate memory was. Specifically they wanted to see the effect of ______________ upon estimates of ______. leading questions speed

10. Aims • Experiment 1 • See if the speed estimates would be influenced by the wording of the question asked. • Hit vs Smashed

11. Aims • Experiment 2 • To see if the leading questions just changed the responses given to the questions, or whether the participant’s memories had actually altered as a result of the leading questions.

12. Procedures • Loftus and Palmer carried out two experiments. You need to know detailed procedures for both of them, as well as participant numbers. • Use the information on pg107 and the originaltext • Two groups • Complete table. • When outlining the procedure, be as detailed but as clear as you can.

13. Procedures • Two groups • Complete table. • When outlining the procedure, be as detailed but as clear as you can. • Go back to your pairs, and share procedures • In pairs, answer questions 1-4

14. Findings and conclusions • Draw two graphs • Summarise the results • Write in the conclusions • Answer the questions • Work together

15. Evaluating the methodology • In pairs • Method • Reliability and sampling • Validity • Ethics • Speed learn

16. Critically assess with reference to alternative evidence • Match up the study with the description of what the results mean • Use three colours to highlight research that supports, contradicts,or develops Loftus and Palmer’s research.