Eyewitness Research Paper - 2537 Words

Eyewitness Testimony Eyewitness testimony is defined as, â€Å"an area of research that investigates the accuracy of memory following an accident, crime, or other significant event, and the types of errors that are commonly made in such situations.† Much emphasis is placed on the accuracy of eyewitness testimony as often-inaccurate eyewitness testimony can have serious consequences leading to wrong convictions. Eyewitness testimony is a powerful tool within any field, particularly that of justice, as it is a readily accepted form of evidence that allows for convictions. However, tests conducted by Loftus have shown an enormous swing from a non-guilty verdict, to guilty within the same case, simply through the introduction†¦show more content†¦We can store the main features of the events, without having to store the details. We make sense of information by filling in oddities. We distort memories for events to fit in with prior expectations, and lastly, we may use out schemas to prov ide the basis for a guess. Schemas, therefore may lead to distortions in memory. Research on schemas by Brewer and Treyens supports Bartlet in his claims. The study involved participants waiting in an â€Å"office† that contained 61 objects. Some were comparable with ordinary office schemas others were not. They were less successful at recalling the incompatible items. Most of the errors in recall were substitutions. These findings suggest that participants were using schemas. At the retrieval stage, recall was influenced by the schemas participants had of what objects are usually contained in an office. Bartlett’s research shows us just how much memory can be interfered with and that memory is not stored passively as it is often perceived to be. Some may strongly argue then against the accuracy of eye witness testimony, with the evidence supplied by Bartlett, depending so much on eyewitness accounts is an extremely unreliable source, although some may contain elements of accuracy, some criticise the importance placed on eyewitness testimony. However Bartletts experiment has been criticized for using folk tales that he assumed would be lessShow MoreRelatedEyewitness Testimony Essay1166 Words   |  5 Pages The Accuracy of Eyewitness Testimony is a major topic in our society. Eyewitness Testimony is often used during crime scene investigations. Although a Testimony by a bystander or a victim regarding an incident is a great tool for further investigation, testimonies are often times false and can lead to false accusations. The research question, how accurate is eyewitness testimony, will be studied. The purpose for this project is to determine the accuracy of eyewitness testimony. The hypothesisRead MoreBlind Spot : A 1 994 Rape Conviction Not Only Altered N.j864 Words   |  4 PagesReferences and Bibliography Avril, T. (May 22, 2006). Eyewitness blind spot: A 1994 rape conviction not only altered N.J. court rules on eyewitness testimony, it raised questions of identifying people of another race. 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With factors such as witness memoryR ead MoreThe Cognitive Interview and Eyewitness Credibility1534 Words   |  7 PagesThe Cognitive Interview and Eyewitness Credibility My Initial Hypothesis Hypothesis: The cognitive interview increases the credibility of eyewitness testimony by decreasing memory error and confabulations. Information is the lifeblood of a criminal investigation. The ability of investigators to obtain useful and accurate information from eyewitnesses of crimes is crucial to effective law enforcement, yet full and accurate recall is difficult to achieve (Stewart, 1985). Such elicitationRead MoreEyewitness Identification, Criminal, And Criminal Law Essay1487 Words   |  6 Pagesanyone on eyewitness testimony only, without any other physical or forensic evidence. 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As I watch the news or read articles in magazines and papers, I wonder why news anchors and journalists often overuse certain adjectives when describing particular events andRead MoreAccuracy Of Eyewitness Testimony1231 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Eyewitness testimony has been used as an important tool in the criminal justice system. When there is lack of other kinds of evidence, police often rely on eyewitness to find potential suspects. In court, eyewitness testimony is a kind of important evidence associates with DNA or other types of evidence. However, many psychologists think that it should not be used in the criminal justice system as most of the wrongful convictions were caused by inaccurate eyewitness testimony. AlthoughRead MoreExamining The Factors That Influence Eyewitness Testimony1257 Words   |  6 PagesEyewitness testimony is the account of the witness of a certain event or incident. Throughout, the witness is enforced to provide their experience to the court in order to take legal action towards the incident. It is considered a very useful tool in courts. Yet, such a way to find out the truth is unreliable as many witnesses fail to contribute in a positive way to grant courts accurate data of the incident. This essay will be discussing the factors that influence eyewitness testimony includingRead MorePreventing Wrongful Convictions Essay1103 Words   |  5 PagesEvery time an innocent person is exonerated based on DNA testing, law enforcement agencies look at what caused the wrongful convictions. There are many issues that contribute to putting guiltless lives behind bars including: eyewitness misidentification, false confessions, imperfect forensic science, and more (Gould and Le o 18). When a witness is taken into a police station to identify a suspect, it is easy for their memories to be blurred and their judgment influenced. This can lead the witness