What Affects Eye Witness Testimony?
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Which of the following is TRUE?
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A suspect with distinct features is more easily identified than an average person.
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A suspect with average features is more easily identified than a person with distinct feathers.
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Explore the intricacies of eyewitness testimony and its reliability in this engaging quiz. Learn about the factors influencing memory recall, the impact of suspect identification, and common misconceptions about eyewitness accuracy. Essential for students of psychology and criminal justice.
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- 2.
What type of memory is eyewitness memory?
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Short term
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Long term
Correct Answer
A. Short termExplanation
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.Rate this question:
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- 3.
Which of the following is TRUE?
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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.
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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.Rate this question:
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- 4.
Which is considered more accurate (with less false identifications)?
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Simultaneous
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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”.Rate this question:
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- 5.
Choose ALL that apply:Which of the following would result in INCREASED false identifications?
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Police tell the witness: "It is OK to say, 'I don't know'"
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Police talk to witness ASAP.
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The police ask open-ended questions.
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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.Rate this question:
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- 6.
Choose ALL that apply: Which of the following would adversely (negatively) affect identification of a suspect? Choose ALL that apply.
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Sunglasses on the suspect
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Hood/hat
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Sunny day
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Mask
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Poor lighting
Correct Answer(s)
A. Sunglasses on the suspect
A. Hood/hat
A. Mask
A. Poor lightingExplanation
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.Rate this question:
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- 7.
Which of the following is NOT true?
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Children generally make unreliable witnesses
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The longer the exposure to the crime/criminal, the better the identification.
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Witnesses are generally better at recognizing their own-race faces than other races.
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A person that is confident in their identification is more accurate
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Witnesses are better at comparing relative height than determining absolute height.
Correct Answer
A. A person that is confident in their identification is more accurateExplanation
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.Rate this question:
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Current Version
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Mar 21, 2023Quiz Edited by
ProProfs Editorial Team -
Oct 24, 2017Quiz Created by
Kwchiro
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