Keywords
eyewitness identification, experimental realism, eyewitness accuracy, misidentifications
Document Type
Article
Abstract
There is a wealth of research on eyewitness accuracy dating back to the early 1900s, which has identified a variety of factors influencing eyewitness misinformation and misidentifications. However, this body of research has primarily utilized laboratory designs that do not reflect the reality of an eyewitness experiencing a criminal event. The current study expands research in this area by uniquely utilizing experiential realism (a staged theft in real time) to reevaluate some of the known factors related to eyewitness misidentification. After viewing a staged theft, study participants were randomly assigned to experimental conditions, and their ability to accurately identify the perpetrator was assessed. The primary results indicate that close to 69 percent of eyewitnesses provided inaccurate information, but more than half were confident they were accurate. Factors such as biased lineup instructions, co-witness misinformation, distance from the crime, and retention intervals influenced eyewitness accuracy. Ongoing consistency in empirical results across studies for eyewitness misidentifications, despite differences in research methodologies, should prompt national change in how eyewitness testimony is used in criminal cases.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://jcjl.pubpub.org/pub/v4i27189
Recommended Citation
Beck, Victoria and Rose, Chris
(2021)
"Using Experimental Realism to Reevaluate Factors Related to Eyewitness Identification,"
Journal of Criminal Justice and Law: Vol. 4:
Iss.
2, Article 1.
DOI: https://jcjl.pubpub.org/pub/v4i27189
Available at:
https://research.library.kutztown.edu/jcjl/vol4/iss2/1