Improving Eyewitness Accuracy: Enhance the Reliability of Witness Testimony

Question 1

Which technique has been scientifically proven to significantly enhance the accuracy of eyewitness memory by reducing cognitive distortions?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive interviewing

Answer

Leading questions

Answer

Hypnosis

Answer

Free recall

Question 2

How does the sequence of events influence the cognitive processes involved in eyewitness memory?

Accepted Answer

The sequence of events provides a structure for the information, facilitating recall.

Answer

The order of events has no impact on eyewitness accuracy.

Answer

Sequencing can impede the flow of information, hindering recall.

Answer

Sequencing only affects the recall of specific details.

Question 3

When using eyewitness accounts in legal cases, which ethical concern is of utmost importance?

Accepted Answer

Potential for wrongful convictions

Answer

Financial burden of eyewitness identification procedures

Answer

Inconvenience to witnesses

Question 4

How do cognitive biases, like confirmation bias and hindsight bias, affect how eyewitnesses interpret and remember events?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive biases can lead eyewitnesses to interpret ambiguous information in a way that supports their preconceived beliefs, potentially leading to distorted and inaccurate memories.

Answer

Cognitive biases have minimal impact on the accuracy of eyewitness memory.

Answer

Cognitive biases primarily influence short-term eyewitness memory, not long-term memory.

Answer

Cognitive biases enhance eyewitness memory by facilitating the accurate recall of details.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes short-term memory in the context of eyewitness accuracy?

Accepted Answer

Brief storage of information for a few minutes

Answer

Progressive loss of memory over time

Answer

Permanent retention of information

Answer

Immediate, temporary retention of sensory information

Question 6

How do stress and anxiety affect the three stages of eyewitness memory: encoding, storage, and retrieval?

Accepted Answer

Stress and anxiety impair encoding by narrowing attention, storage by disrupting memory consolidation, and retrieval by making it difficult to access memories.

Answer

Stress and anxiety only impair retrieval by making it difficult to access memories.

Answer

Stress and anxiety enhance encoding but impair storage and retrieval.

Answer

Stress and anxiety have no impact on eyewitness memory.

Question 7

How can leading questions during an interview impact the reliability of eyewitness accounts?

Accepted Answer

Impair accuracy by subtly influencing the witness's response.

Answer

Enhance accuracy by providing specific recall cues.

Answer

Be used only when witnesses struggle to recall details independently.

Answer

Have no significant effect on eyewitness accuracy.

Question 8

Which of the following factors does NOT impair eyewitness accuracy?

Accepted Answer

Facial recognition ability

Answer

Stress

Answer

Time delay

Answer

Sleep deprivation

Question 9

According to the cognitive interview technique, an appropriate question might be:

Accepted Answer

Recall the event. What else do you remember?

Answer

Describe the suspect's hair color.

Answer

What happened after the crime?

Answer

How tall was the suspect?

Question 10

Which type of eyewitness error occurs when misleading information influences an observer after an event?

Accepted Answer

Post-event misinformation error

Answer

Cross-racial identification error

Answer

Source confusion error

Answer

Confabulation

Question 11

A recommended practice for conducting lineups is:

Accepted Answer

Using a double-blind procedure

Answer

Presenting a large group for identification

Answer

Allowing witness communication with officers

Answer

Informing the witness the perpetrator is present

Question 12

How do cultural factors, such as norms, expectations, and stereotypes, affect the way eyewitnesses perceive and remember events, potentially leading to biased or inaccurate memories?

Accepted Answer

Cultural factors can shape how individuals perceive and interpret events, influencing their memories.

Answer

Cultural diversity has no impact on eyewitness accuracy.

Answer

Cultural stereotypes never contribute to inaccurate memories.

Question 13

Which factor has the greatest influence on eyewitness accuracy?

Accepted Answer

Time between the event and identification

Answer

Age of the witness

Answer

Race of the perpetrator

Answer

Education level of the witness

Question 14

What is the term for the tendency of witnesses to align their statements with those of others?

Accepted Answer

Social conformity

Answer

Cognitive bias

Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Leading questions

Question 15

What is the cognitive process by which witnesses form a mental representation of an event?

Accepted Answer

Encoding

Answer

Storage

Answer

Retrieval

Answer

Recognition

Question 16

What is the term for the tendency of witnesses to overestimate the accuracy of their memory?

Accepted Answer

Overconfidence bias

Answer

Hindsight bias

Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Illusory correlation

Question 17

What is the term for the cognitive process of forming a memory of an event?

Accepted Answer

Encoding

Answer

Retrieval

Answer

Storage

Answer

Recall

Question 18

What is the term for the tendency for eyewitnesses to mistakenly identify a familiar face as the perpetrator?

Accepted Answer

Own-race bias

Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Weapon focus effect

Answer

Contextual bias

Question 19

What is the technique that involves providing feedback to eyewitnesses to improve their memory?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive interview

Answer

Hypnosis

Answer

Active listening

Answer

Free recall

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT a best practice for conducting lineup procedures?

Accepted Answer

Instructing witnesses to make a choice even if they are unsure

Answer

Using sequential lineups

Answer

Including fillers in the lineup

Answer

Allowing witnesses to view the lineup twice

Question 21

What is the best approach when interviewing an eyewitness to obtain accurate information?

Accepted Answer

Using open-ended questions

Answer

Interrupting the witness frequently

Answer

Suggesting possible answers

Answer

Taking detailed notes during the interview

Question 22

Why is it important to use unbiased and neutral language during interviews to minimize errors in eyewitness testimony?

Accepted Answer

Reduces suggestibility and leading questions

Answer

Makes the interview process more efficient

Answer

Has no impact on eyewitness accuracy

Answer

Can confuse the witness

Question 23

During an eyewitness interview, why is it essential to refrain from using suggestive techniques?

Accepted Answer

Suggestive techniques can introduce biases and distort the witness's memory, leading to inaccurate recall.

Answer

Suggestive techniques can enhance the witness's immediate recall.

Answer

Suggestive techniques can increase the witness's confidence in their recall.

Answer

Suggestive techniques can enhance the credibility of the witness.

Question 24

Which factor is known to enhance the accuracy of eyewitness testimony?

Accepted Answer

Allowing sufficient time for the witness to recount the event thoroughly

Answer

Providing a detailed description of the suspect

Answer

Asking questions that suggest a particular outcome

Answer

Using language that implies guilt

Question 25

What is the term for the tendency of witnesses in violent crimes to focus excessively on the weapon, impairing their memory for other details?

Accepted Answer

Weapon focus

Answer

Target bias

Answer

Peripheral vision impairment

Answer

Tunnel vision

Question 26

What is the optimal approach for interviewing eyewitnesses to minimize the risk of creating false memories?

Accepted Answer

Avoiding suggestive language and allowing the witness to recount events freely

Answer

Asking leading questions

Answer

Repeatedly questioning the witness about the same details

Answer

Encouraging the witness to guess or fill in gaps in their memory

Question 27

What is the primary objective of improving eyewitness accuracy in forensic psychology?

Accepted Answer

Reducing the likelihood of wrongful convictions based on inaccurate testimony

Answer

Increasing the number of convictions based on eyewitness testimony

Answer

Eliminating the occurrence of false memories altogether

Answer

Punishing criminals more severely based on eyewitness accounts

Question 28

How does schema theory impact eyewitness accounts and potentially lead to memory errors?

Accepted Answer

Schema theory suggests that our existing knowledge, beliefs, and expectations can influence how we perceive, interpret, and remember events.

Answer

Schema theory is only relevant to long-term memory and has no effect on short-term memory, including eyewitness memory.

Answer

Schema theory exclusively affects the recall of positive experiences in eyewitness testimony, not negative ones.

Answer

Schema theory has little to no influence on the accuracy of eyewitness testimony.

Question 29

The cognitive process of piecing together memories to form a coherent representation of an event is known as:

Accepted Answer

Reconstruction

Answer

Encoding

Answer

Retrieval

Answer

Consolidation

Question 30

Which type of eyewitness error occurs when an innocent person is wrongly identified as the perpetrator?

Accepted Answer

False alarm

Answer

Miss

Answer

Correct rejection

Answer

False negative

Question 31

The technique that involves asking unbiased, open-ended questions and refraining from suggesting answers to enhance memory accuracy is called:

Accepted Answer

Cognitive interview

Answer

Lineup identification

Answer

Photo spread

Answer

Hypnosis

Question 32

Which of the following is NOT a factor that can influence the likelihood that an eyewitness will be misled?

Accepted Answer

Witness age

Answer

Witness confidence

Answer

Interviewer's demeanor

Answer

Interview environment

Question 33

The phenomenon where new information can distort or alter an existing memory is known as:

Accepted Answer

Retroactive interference

Answer

Proactive interference

Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

False memory syndrome

Question 34

Which of the following principles guides forensic psychologists when evaluating eyewitness testimony?

Accepted Answer

Eyewitness memory is susceptible to various psychological influences.

Answer

Eyewitness accounts are inherently reliable and accurate.

Answer

Eyewitness testimony should be given the highest weight in legal proceedings.

Answer

Eyewitness accounts should be considered definitive proof of guilt or innocence.

Question 35

The field that examines the intersection of psychology and the legal system, including the evaluation of eyewitness testimony, is:

Accepted Answer

Forensic psychology

Answer

Criminal justice

Answer

Law enforcement

Answer

Criminology

Question 36

Evaluate the ethical considerations associated with using hypnosis to enhance eyewitness recall, weighing its potential benefits against its risks.

Accepted Answer

The use of hypnosis to enhance eyewitness recall is ethically acceptable when appropriate safeguards are in place.

Answer

Hypnosis is an ethically sound practice for enhancing eyewitness recall in all situations.

Answer

Hypnosis should never be used to enhance eyewitness recall due to its potential risks.

Answer

Ethical implications of hypnosis on eyewitness recall are less important than the pursuit of justice.

Question 37

Eyewitness confidence is often seen as a sign of reliable memory, but research shows otherwise. Explain this discrepancy, using real-life examples to support your answer.

Accepted Answer

External factors can influence eyewitness confidence, potentially leading to inaccurate memories.

Answer

Eyewitness confidence is based solely on the accuracy of their memory, making it a reliable indicator.

Answer

Juries should always consider the confidence levels of eyewitnesses when evaluating their testimony, as it is a strong indicator of accuracy.

Answer

Eyewitness confidence is a complex phenomenon that is fully understood, making it a reliable indicator of memory accuracy.

Question 38

Which of the following factors can enhance eyewitness accuracy?

Accepted Answer

Using unbiased language and open-ended questions during questioning

Answer

Asking leading questions

Answer

Showing witnesses multiple photos of the suspect in a sequential manner

Answer

Encouraging witnesses to guess and fill in missing details

Question 39

What is the primary cognitive process involved in the formation of eyewitness memory?

Accepted Answer

Encoding

Answer

Retrieval

Answer

Storage

Question 40

Which strategy is most effective in minimizing the risk of false identification?

Accepted Answer

Using a lineup with multiple fillers who closely resemble the suspect

Answer

Showing witnesses suggestive photos of the suspect

Answer

Asking witnesses to identify the suspect from a single photo

Answer

Allowing witnesses to discuss the case with each other before identifying the suspect

Question 41

What is the primary purpose of the Witness Protection Program?

Accepted Answer

To protect witnesses from retaliation or intimidation that could hinder their ability to provide accurate testimony

Answer

To provide financial assistance to witnesses who have suffered financial losses as a result of their involvement in a crime

Answer

To help witnesses improve their memory of events they witnessed

Question 42

What is the primary role of a forensic psychologist in improving eyewitness accuracy?

Accepted Answer

Conducting research, training law enforcement, and consulting on cases involving eyewitness testimony

Answer

Prosecuting criminals

Answer

Interviewing witnesses and conducting lineups

Question 43

What is the term for the phenomenon where witnesses tend to conform their beliefs and recall to match the beliefs and recall of others?

Accepted Answer

Social influence

Answer

Cognitive dissonance

Answer

Groupthink

Answer

Anchoring bias

Question 44

Which technique has been shown to be effective in improving eyewitness accuracy?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive interviewing (using specific techniques to encourage detailed and accurate recall)

Answer

Leading questions (which can bias witnesses' recall)

Answer

Hypnosis (which can lead to false memories and reduced accuracy)

Question 45

Why is it important to provide feedback to witnesses after they have made an identification?

Accepted Answer

To correct potential errors and prevent future misidentifications

Answer

To reinforce the accuracy of their identification

Answer

To reward witnesses for their cooperation

Question 46

A police officer shows a witness a photo lineup of potential suspects. The officer subtly emphasizes the suspect they believe is guilty. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Unintentional suggestion

Answer

Source monitoring error

Answer

Weapon focus

Answer

Post-event information

Question 47

Which of the following techniques is NOT commonly used to improve eyewitness accuracy?

Accepted Answer

Hypnosis

Answer

Cognitive interview

Answer

Blind lineup administration

Answer

Sequential lineup presentation

Question 48

A witness is asked to describe the perpetrator of a crime. They accurately describe the perpetrator's clothing but struggle to recall their facial features. This is likely due to:

Accepted Answer

Attention being focused on peripheral details

Answer

The cross-race effect

Answer

The weapon focus effect

Answer

The misinformation effect

Question 49

A witness sees a crime in a dimly lit alleyway. They later identify a suspect from a photo lineup. However, the suspect is wearing different clothing than the perpetrator. This exemplifies:

Accepted Answer

Change blindness

Answer

The encoding specificity principle

Answer

The familiarity effect

Answer

The own-race bias

Question 50

Which of the following is a cognitive interview technique designed to help witnesses retrieve more information about a crime?

Accepted Answer

Reporting events in reverse order

Answer

Using leading questions to elicit specific details

Answer

Presenting a lineup with a single suspect

Question 51

A witness is shown a photo lineup containing a suspect who resembles the perpetrator. However, the witness incorrectly identifies a different individual in the lineup. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A false positive identification

Answer

A source monitoring error

Answer

A weapon focus effect

Question 52

The tendency for witnesses to remember events that did not occur after being exposed to misinformation is known as:

Accepted Answer

The misinformation effect

Answer

The change blindness effect

Answer

The encoding specificity principle

Answer

The source monitoring error

Question 53

Presenting a photo lineup with only one suspect at a time, instead of all suspects simultaneously, is known as:

Accepted Answer

Sequential lineup presentation

Answer

Cognitive interview

Answer

Blind lineup administration

Answer

Hypnosis

Question 54

The phenomenon where witnesses focus their attention on a weapon during a crime, leading to poorer memory of other details, is called:

Accepted Answer

Weapon focus

Answer

The misinformation effect

Answer

The change blindness effect