The Effect of Misinformation on the Reliability of Eyewitness Testimonies
School Name
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School
Grade Level
11th Grade
Presentation Topic
Psychology
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
The purpose of this lab is question how could/should society will go about in court cases. And whether jury or people (in general) should be allowed to make judgements based on eyewitness testimonies because so many factors can alter memory. The procedure in doing this lab is to first using a video of a criminal event occurring. Then creating 2 different Surveys (one w/misinformation, other w/o misinformation) with video attached. Sending the survey to the sample group. Giving another survey with misinformation to another sample group. And creating data based on results from both surveys. The results showed how the misinformation were usually less than 50% correct and affected the witnesses negatively. Also that the eyewitness were on average 50% correct, which is moderately unreliable. To conclude some errors were very possible and eyewitness testimonies shouldn't be an important part of a criminal case.
Recommended Citation
Rhooms, Elijah, "The Effect of Misinformation on the Reliability of Eyewitness Testimonies" (2020). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 230.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2020/all/230
Location
Furman Hall 208
Start Date
3-28-2020 9:00 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
Group Project
No
The Effect of Misinformation on the Reliability of Eyewitness Testimonies
Furman Hall 208
The purpose of this lab is question how could/should society will go about in court cases. And whether jury or people (in general) should be allowed to make judgements based on eyewitness testimonies because so many factors can alter memory. The procedure in doing this lab is to first using a video of a criminal event occurring. Then creating 2 different Surveys (one w/misinformation, other w/o misinformation) with video attached. Sending the survey to the sample group. Giving another survey with misinformation to another sample group. And creating data based on results from both surveys. The results showed how the misinformation were usually less than 50% correct and affected the witnesses negatively. Also that the eyewitness were on average 50% correct, which is moderately unreliable. To conclude some errors were very possible and eyewitness testimonies shouldn't be an important part of a criminal case.
