How many people become defendants daily in the US due to eyewitness identification?

200 people per day

What percentage of DNA exonerations involve at least one false eyewitness identification?

Around 75%

What is the primary issue with eyewitness identification evidence?

It is one of the least reliable forms of evidence but persuasive to juries.

What are the three stages where false identifications can occur?

Encoding, Storage, Retrieval

What are stable witness factors that affect eyewitness identification?

Age and ethnicity (own race bias)

What are malleable witness factors that can influence identification accuracy?

Alcohol consumption and tiredness

What stable target factor can affect eyewitness identification?

Facial distinctiveness

What malleable target factors can influence recognition?

Disguises and changes in appearance

What are key descriptors that witnesses often recall?

Hairstyle (27%), Eyes (14%), Nose (14%), Face shape (13%)

What environmental factors can affect eyewitness identification?

Light levels, visibility, presence of a weapon, crime seriousness

What post-event factors can lead to false identifications?

Delay, exposure to misinformation, verbal overshadowing

What is a common issue with verbal descriptions provided by witnesses?

They are often too brief to be forensically useful.

What is the problem with facial composites in eyewitness identification?

People are poor at constructing accurate facial composites.

What is the effect of using mugshot books in eyewitness identification?

They can contaminate subsequent identification performance.

What is instruction bias in lineups?

Witnesses may be reluctant to reject lineups, leading to false alarms.

What did Memon, Hope, & Gabbert (2002) find about participant expectations in lineups?

90% expected the target to be present despite clear instructions.

What is the Wild Card option in lineups?

An option that increased children's performance in target absent lineups.

What is the difference between simultaneous and sequential lineups?

Simultaneous lineups rely on relative judgment, while sequential lineups rely on absolute judgments.

What is foil bias in eyewitness lineups?

Choosing foils that are too dissimilar or too similar to the suspect can confuse witnesses.

What did Wells et al. (2000) suggest about choosing foils?

Foils should be chosen based on the witness's verbal description.

What is investigator bias in eyewitness identification?

The police officer's behavior can influence the eyewitness's decision.

What did Phillips et al. (1999) find about lineup administration?

Double blind administration safeguards against false identification rates.

What are postdiction variables in eyewitness identification?

Measurable products that correlate with identification accuracy in a non-causal manner.

What is the relationship between confidence and accuracy in eyewitness identification?

It is controversial; simple correlations often show no relation or only a small positive relation.

What can artificially inflate a witness's confidence?

Positive feedback.

What is response latency in eyewitness identification?

Accurate witnesses may make their decisions more quickly than inaccurate witnesses.

What is self-reported decision-process in eyewitness identification?

How witnesses report their identification processes, prone to distortion.

What is the main focus of the reading by Vrij, Hope, & Fisher (2014)?

Eliciting reliable information in investigative interviews.

What is the significance of interviews conducted during the initial phase of an investigation?

They are crucial in determining whether a case is solved.

What is the spreading activation theory of memory proposed by John Anderson?

Information is encoded into cognitive units that form an interconnected network, with retrieval achieved by spreading activation throughout the network.

What does Endel Tulving's encoding specificity principle state?

Memory will be enhanced when encoding conditions and retrieval conditions are similar.

What are the four key features agreed upon by interview protocols?

Questioning style, free recall phase, minimizing interruptions, and the use of appropriate questioning techniques.

What is the funneling technique in interviewing?

Starting interviews with a prolonged free recall phase, allowing witnesses to recall as much as they can.

What was the main finding of Loftus & Palmer (1974) regarding eyewitness testimony?

Subjects' estimates of speed were influenced by the wording of the questions asked.

What did Loftus & Zanni (1975) find about the reporting of broken glass?

Reporting of broken glass was related to the wording of the speed estimate question.

What challenges do child witnesses face in providing eyewitness testimony?

They generally report very little free recall information and can be highly suggestible.

What are anatomically detailed dolls used for in forensic practice?

To help children understand and map past events onto dolls during interviews.

What were the conclusions regarding the use of dolls in interviews with children?

Children's interactions with dolls are not diagnostic of abuse and can lead to increased errors.

What is the 'holy grail' of questioning techniques in investigative interviews?

A technique that increases the amount of information provided without compromising accuracy.

What did the study by Jack, Martyn, & Zajac (2015) involve?

Participants viewed a film clip of a simulated crime and then provided free recall accounts.

What is the impact of investigator influence on memory?

It has little effect on encoding, some effect on storage, and enormous effects on retrieval.

What is the role of context in retrieval according to Tulving?

Context plays a large role in enhancing memory retrieval.

What are the types of interview questions ranked from most to least preferable?

Open-ended questions, specific questions, forced choice questions, suggestive questions, leading questions.

What is the mean length of uninterrupted free recall according to Fisher, Geiselman, & Raymond (1987)?

A mere 7.5 seconds.

What is the effect of suggestive questioning on eyewitness testimony?

It can contaminate the whole investigation and lead to inaccurate testimonies.

What is the primary goal of interview protocols like the Cognitive Interview and NICHD Protocol?

To maximize the quantity and quality of eyewitness testimony.

What is the significance of the initial interviews in the context of eyewitness testimony?

They can advance the investigation immeasurably if conducted well.

What does the term 'bad interviews' refer to in the context of eyewitness testimony?

Interviews that contaminate the investigation and lead to unreliable testimonies.

What are the four conditions participants were assigned to in the study by Prof Rachel Zajac?

Own sketch, Provided sketch, Photograph, No visual aid

How do visual aids affect the amount of information provided by participants?

Visual aids increase both the amount and the proportion of accurate information provided.

What is one way visual aids might help witnesses during interviews?

They may help witnesses to provide their own retrieval cues.

What is the Encoding Specificity Principle?

It suggests that context can aid in the retrieval of memories.

How does rapport affect the amount of information a witness provides?

The more at ease a witness is, the more information they are likely to impart.

What was the outcome of the study by Sternberg et al. (1997) regarding rapport building?

Children in the open-ended rapport building condition provided over twice as many details.

What are the three components of the Tripartite Model of Rapport?

Mutual attentiveness, positivity, and coordination.

What factors contributed to positive experiences during police interviews according to Jakobsen (2017)?

Control of narrative, coherent account, feeling listened to, perceived empathy, and coping with emotions.

What is the effect of expanded ground rules on witness recall?

They can improve the amount of information provided during free recall.

What did Barrett et al. (in prep) find about the pen description example?

It resulted in more information during free recall without loss of accuracy.

What can happen when interviewers are not objective?

They can shape witnesses' reports and overlook relevant information.

What was the McMartin Preschool Case?

A case involving 350 allegations against 7 teachers, which lasted 6 years and cost $15 million.

What were some problematic questioning techniques identified in the McMartin case?

Suggestive questions, referring to other people, positive and negative consequences, asked and answered, inviting speculation.

What was a concerning finding regarding interviewers' knowledge of questioning techniques?

There is no reliable correlation between interviewers' knowledge of techniques and their actual interviewing practice.

What is the significance of rapport in sensitive or traumatic interviews?

Building rapport is especially important to encourage witnesses to share information.

What is the impact of open-ended questions in interviews?

They encourage more detailed responses from witnesses.

How does the presence of visual aids influence the interview process?

They may decrease social barriers and help witnesses mentally reinstate context.

What is the relationship between the interviewer's behavior and the witness's performance?

The interviewer's behavior can significantly influence the amount and accuracy of information provided by the witness.

What is the main challenge in defining 'rapport' in interviews?

The absence of a precise definition makes it difficult to measure and operationalize.

What did children in the open-ended rapport condition do compared to those in the direct question condition?

They uttered over twice as many words and provided more details.

What is the effect of asking leading questions during interviews?

It can lead to false allegations and increased 'yes' answers to misleading questions.

What is the importance of allowing witnesses to control their narrative during interviews?

It contributes to more coherent accounts and positive interview experiences.

What does the term 'gist' refer to in the context of memory recall?

It refers to the general level of reporting, as opposed to verbatim recall.

How can the interview process be improved for witnesses?

By ensuring the interviewer is empathetic, professional, and creates a safe environment.

What is the role of mutual attentiveness in rapport building?

It involves focused interaction, involvement, and mutual interest between the interviewer and witness.