Eyewitness Accuracy: Factors and Influences

Question 1

Which type of bias occurs when witnesses are influenced by stereotypes and preconceived notions?

Accepted Answer

Social bias

Answer

Cognitive bias

Answer

Perceptual bias

Answer

Motivational bias

Question 2

Which of the following methods is NOT considered a research-supported technique for improving eyewitness accuracy?

Accepted Answer

Hypnosis

Answer

Cognitive interviewing

Answer

Lineup construction procedures

Answer

Blind lineup procedures

Question 3

Which factor does NOT typically impair eyewitness accuracy?

Accepted Answer

High levels of confidence

Answer

Memory errors

Answer

Biases

Answer

Sleep deprivation

Question 4

The reconstructive memory theory suggests that:

Accepted Answer

Memories are reconstructed based on schemas and expectations.

Answer

Eyewitness accounts are always accurate.

Answer

Memories are stored as exact recordings of events.

Answer

Eyewitness accuracy improves with time.

Question 5

Suggestibility in the context of eyewitness testimony refers to:

Accepted Answer

A witness' susceptibility to being influenced by leading questions or other cues.

Answer

A witness' ability to recall details without external influence.

Answer

A witness' tendency to fabricate memories under pressure.

Answer

A witness' level of confidence in their memory.

Question 6

Confirmation bias in the context of eyewitness testimony explains that:

Accepted Answer

Eyewitnesses tend to seek out information that confirms their initial beliefs.

Answer

Eyewitnesses are more likely to recall details that contradict their expectations.

Answer

Eyewitnesses are unable to form accurate memories after being exposed to misleading information.

Answer

Eyewitness accounts are highly resistant to change.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a technique used to assess the credibility of eyewitness testimony?

Accepted Answer

Using a lie detector test

Answer

Evaluating the witness' confidence

Answer

Verifying their memory with other sources

Answer

Examining their body language

Question 8

What refers to the tendency for witnesses to conform to the expectations of others?

Accepted Answer

Suggestibility.

Answer

Confirmation bias.

Answer

Social desirability.

Answer

Cognitive dissonance.

Question 9

Which of the following is a factor that can enhance the reliability of eyewitness testimony?

Accepted Answer

Long exposure time to the event.

Answer

Emotional distress during the event.

Answer

Low confidence in the accuracy of their memory.

Answer

Prior knowledge about the event.

Question 10

What is the name of the phenomenon where witnesses tend to remember what they expect to see?

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias.

Answer

Cognitive dissonance.

Answer

Hindsight bias.

Answer

Social desirability.

Question 11

Which of the following techniques is commonly used to reduce suggestibility in eyewitness interviews?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive interviewing.

Answer

Leading questions.

Answer

Repeated questioning.

Answer

Hypnosis.

Question 12

What refers to the process by which new information is integrated into an existing memory?

Accepted Answer

Reconstruction.

Answer

Deposition.

Answer

Recall.

Answer

Recollection.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a credible eyewitness?

Accepted Answer

Lack of attention to relevant details.

Answer

High confidence in their testimony.

Answer

Consistent testimony over time.

Answer

Answers questions thoughtfully.

Question 14

What is the term for the tendency to underestimate the time it takes for an event to occur?

Accepted Answer

Hindsight bias.

Answer

Confirmation bias.

Answer

Social desirability.

Answer

Cognitive dissonance.

Question 15

What is the primary goal of forensic psychology in relation to eyewitness testimony?

Accepted Answer

To enhance the understanding and reliability of eyewitness testimony.

Answer

To determine the accuracy of all eyewitness testimony.

Answer

To discredit eyewitness testimony in court.

Answer

To provide expert testimony on eyewitness issues only when requested by the defense.

Question 16

What is the term for the process of unintentionally influencing an eyewitness's memory?

Accepted Answer

Suggestibility

Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Leading questions

Answer

Confabulation

Question 17

Which of the following is a cognitive bias that can lead to inaccurate eyewitness identifications?

Accepted Answer

Weapon focus

Answer

Hindsight bias

Answer

Groupthink

Answer

Fundamental attribution error

Question 18

What is the technique used to retrieve lost or distorted memories through guided recall?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive interviewing

Answer

Hypnosis

Answer

Eyewitness testimony analysis

Answer

Neuroimaging

Question 19

What is the role of the amygdala in eyewitness memory?

Accepted Answer

It processes and stores emotional information.

Answer

It is responsible for decision-making.

Answer

It retrieves memories from long-term storage.

Answer

It regulates body temperature.

Question 20

What is the term for the tendency to overestimate the consistency of our own memories over time?

Accepted Answer

Retrospective bias

Answer

Memory distortion

Answer

Confabulation

Answer

Cryptomnesia

Question 21

Which memory error involves a witness confusing two similar-looking individuals?

Accepted Answer

Misidentification

Answer

Source misattribution

Answer

Post-event information

Answer

Repression

Question 22

Which of the following is NOT a recommended best practice for conducting eyewitness interviews?

Accepted Answer

Interrupting witnesses while they are recalling details

Answer

Using open-ended questions

Answer

Avoiding suggestive language

Answer

Recording the interview for future reference

Question 23

Which of the following is not considered a crucial factor affecting eyewitness accuracy?

Accepted Answer

Age

Answer

Memory errors

Answer

Cognitive biases

Answer

Suggestibility

Question 24

Which type of memory error involves the incorrect recall of information due to the creation of false memories?

Accepted Answer

Confabulation

Answer

Encoding error

Answer

Storage error

Answer

Retrieval error

Question 25

Which cognitive bias can lead eyewitnesses to perceive an event as lasting longer than it actually did?

Accepted Answer

Hindsight bias

Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Availability heuristic

Answer

Actor-observer bias

Question 26

What technique is recommended to minimize the impact of suggestive influences during an eyewitness interview?

Accepted Answer

Open-ended questions

Answer

Leading questions

Answer

Multiple-choice questions

Answer

Hypnosis

Question 27

Which characteristic is indicative of a credible eyewitness?

Accepted Answer

Consistent accounts across multiple recall attempts

Answer

High level of certainty

Answer

Minimal hesitation or uncertainty

Answer

Detailed recollection of peripheral information

Question 28

Which aspect of eyewitness testimony represents a key strength in forensic investigations?

Accepted Answer

Eyewitnesses can provide firsthand and potentially valuable information about an incident.

Answer

Eyewitness accounts are always accurate and highly reliable.

Answer

Eyewitness testimony is unaffected by external factors or biases.

Answer

Eyewitnesses have an exceptional ability to recall intricate details.

Question 29

What primary concern underlies the importance of addressing eyewitness accuracy in forensic settings?

Accepted Answer

Inaccurate eyewitness testimony can lead to unjust convictions.

Answer

Eyewitness testimony is often the only available evidence.

Answer

Eyewitness accounts are difficult to obtain and verify.

Answer

Eyewitness testimony is inadmissible in court.

Question 30

Which research method is commonly employed to investigate the accuracy and reliability of eyewitness testimony?

Accepted Answer

Laboratory experiments

Answer

Case studies

Answer

Surveys

Answer

Field experiments

Question 31

What factor does NOT influence the accuracy of eyewitness testimonies?

Accepted Answer

Personality influences

Answer

Memory errors

Answer

Cognitive biases

Answer

Suggestibility

Question 32

Which type of bias is most likely to arise when an eyewitness has a personal connection to the involved individuals?

Accepted Answer

Motivational bias

Answer

Cognitive bias

Answer

Cultural bias

Answer

Perceptual bias

Question 33

Which form of memory distortion is commonly associated with traumatic events?

Accepted Answer

Retrospective distortion

Answer

Source monitoring error

Answer

Flashbulb memory

Answer

False memory syndrome

Question 34

Which type of memory error involves remembering an event that never occurred?

Accepted Answer

Confabulation

Answer

Misattribution

Answer

Source amnesia

Answer

Retrieval failure

Question 35

What is the term for the tendency to remember information that confirms our existing beliefs and expectations?

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Hindsight bias

Answer

Framing effect

Answer

Availability heuristic

Question 36

Which of the following techniques can be used to reduce the suggestibility of eyewitnesses?

Accepted Answer

Open-ended questions

Answer

Multiple choice questions

Answer

Leading questions

Answer

Closed-ended questions

Question 37

What is the name of the phenomenon where people tend to remember events as being more consistent and coherent than they actually were?

Accepted Answer

Clustering illusion

Answer

Schema theory

Answer

Primacy effect

Answer

False memory syndrome

Question 38

What is the primary reason why eyewitness testimony is often unreliable?

Accepted Answer

A combination of all three factors

Answer

Bias

Answer

Memory errors

Answer

Suggestibility

Question 39

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic typically associated with reliable eyewitness testimony?

Accepted Answer

Providing inconsistent details

Answer

High level of confidence

Answer

Consistency in testimony

Answer

Emotional stability at the time of the event

Question 40

What is the term used to describe the tendency of eyewitnesses to assimilate information into their memory in a manner that aligns with their preexisting beliefs or expectations?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive bias

Answer

Confabulation

Answer

Source amnesia

Answer

Misattribution

Question 41

Which technique is employed to counter the potential influence of suggestive questioning on eyewitness accuracy?

Accepted Answer

Double-blind lineup procedure

Answer

Showup identification

Answer

Photographic spread

Answer

Sequential lineup presentation

Question 42

What process describes the merging of new information with existing memories, potentially altering the original memory?

Accepted Answer

Memory reconstruction

Answer

Memory storage

Answer

Memory encoding

Answer

Memory retrieval

Question 43

Which severe consequence can arise from inaccurate eyewitness testimonies?

Accepted Answer

Wrongful convictions

Answer

Improved witness protection protocols

Answer

Enhanced crime investigation techniques

Answer

Increased public distrust in law enforcement

Question 44

What is the term for the tendency of eyewitnesses to prioritize the perpetrator's weapon over their facial features during an incident?

Accepted Answer

Weapon focus effect

Answer

Context-dependent memory

Answer

Hindsight bias

Answer

Change blindness

Question 45

Which strategy is recognized for its effectiveness in enhancing the accuracy of eyewitness accounts?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive interviewing techniques

Answer

Showup identification procedures

Answer

Leading and suggestive questioning

Answer

Hypnosis-induced recall

Question 46

What is the phenomenon that describes the higher likelihood of eyewitnesses identifying a familiar face as the perpetrator of a crime?

Accepted Answer

Own-race bias

Answer

Context effect

Answer

False memory syndrome

Answer

Cross-race effect

Question 47

What process describes the gradual loss of specific details of an event from memory, while the general gist of the event is retained?

Accepted Answer

Fading memory

Answer

Misinformation effect

Answer

Repressed memory

Answer

Source amnesia

Question 48

Which type of memory error is most likely to occur when an eyewitness is presented with misleading information **before** an event?

Accepted Answer

Misinformation effect

Answer

Contextual interference

Answer

Source misattribution

Question 49

Which of the following is a type of **cognitive** bias that can influence eyewitness testimony?

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Context effect

Answer

Suggestibility

Answer

Memory error

Question 50

Which of the following factors can increase the likelihood of an eyewitness **correctly** identifying a suspect?

Accepted Answer

High-quality lighting

Answer

The race of the suspect

Answer

The presence of a weapon

Answer

The age of the eyewitness

Question 51

Which of the following is a technique used to test the **reliability** of eyewitness memory?

Accepted Answer

Confidence-accuracy correlation

Answer

Lineup identification

Answer

Hypnosis

Answer

Memory retrieval

Question 52

Which of the following is an ethical concern related to eyewitness testimony?

Accepted Answer

The potential for false convictions based on inaccurate testimony

Answer

The cost of conducting eyewitness lineups

Answer

The difficulty in finding unbiased eyewitnesses

Question 53

Which of the following is a current trend in eyewitness research?

Accepted Answer

The use of technology to improve the accuracy of eyewitness identification

Answer

The abandonment of eyewitness testimony in legal proceedings

Answer

The belief that eyewitness testimony is always unreliable