Memory reconstruction

Memory reconstruction typically involves

• re-creating a memory using all accessible information in long-term memory.

• building up a new memory using information planted in leading questions.

• re-creating a distorted memory that has been manipulated by a researcher.

• building an accurate account of what was actually experienced at some time in the past.

Research by Loftus on the effect of leading questions on eye-witness testimonies has found that

• eye-witness testimonies are reconstructions of events that can be manipulated by information that is given after the event.

• eye-witness testimonies are reconstructions of events and are therefore always accurate.

• eye-witness testimonies are not reconstructed and are therefore highly reliable as evidence in court.

• eye-witness testimonies are not reconstructed and are therefore not reliable evidence in court.

Zoya was walking to school when she saw a student's wallet being stolen from their pocket. Zoya went to the police and was shown a series of photographs of potential suspects.

In this scenario, which of the following is an example of a leading question?

• What street were you on when you saw the wallet being stolen?

• What clothing was worn by the person who stole the wallet?

• How tall was the young man who stole the wallet?

• What time was the wallet stolen?

Indah was recently asked a series of questions in court after having witnessed a robbery in a cafe. When talking in front of court Indah could feel her heart rate increasing significantly.

Which division of the nervous system is responsible for increasing her heart rate?

• parasympathetic

• sympathetic

• somatic

• central

Dr Trumpet conducted an experiment that investigated the effect of leading questions on he ability to accurately identify a robber from a photo. In the written report of their experiment, Dr Trumpet stated that their results confirmed Loftus' findings that eye-witness testimonies are often fallible because

• memory retrieval is a reconstructive process and can be updated with false information.

• when eye-witnesses retrieve their memory outside of where it occurred they cannot use context dependent cues.

• eye-witness testimony is subjective.

• eye-witnesses often lie.

Last year at at party, Bea ran out of the room screaming when a rat appeared. Her friends recently reminded her of the event but told her that her reaction was not that extreme so she didn't feel bad. Bea remembered the event her friends were referring to without the aspects of the overreaction.

Bea's different recollection of the event at the party demonstrates

• the effect of leading questions on eye-witness testimonies.

• the reconstructive nature of memory.

• the serial position effect.

• anterograde amnesia.

Research by Loftus has found that

• exposure to leading questions has no impact on the accuracy of eye-witness testimony.

• eye-witness testimonies are never reconstructed and are always accurate.

• eye-witness memories are reconstructions of events that can be manipulated and are, therefore, highly reliable evidence in court.

• eye-witness memories are reconstructions of events that can be manipulated and aren't always reliable as evidence in court.

Loftus’s research into the effect of leading questions on eyewitness testimony found that

• exposure to leading questions changed stored memories of events.

• leading questions after the event do not affect the fallibility of memory.

• leading questions can provide context cues that improve recollection of events.

• manipulation of memory is possible because of the reconstructive nature of memory.

John is a healthy 34-year-old man who witnessed a woman’s handbag being stolen from a shopping trolley in a supermarket. John was shown a series of photographs of faces and asked if any of the faces matched that of the person who took the handbag.

John is asked to give eyewitness testimony. In this scenario, which one of the following is an example of a leading question?

• Where were you in the supermarket when the handbag was stolen?

• What colour was the handbag that the man stole from the trolley?

• What was the person who stole the handbag wearing?

• What time was it when the handbag was stolen?

Studies by Loftus on the effect of misleading questions on eyewitness testimonies have found that

• exposure to misleading questions has no impact on an eyewitness’s recollection of events.

• it is unfair to expect eyewitness testimonies to be accurate, as people will remember only events that are positive.

• eyewitness memories are reconstructions of events that can be manipulated by information that is given after the event.

• eyewitness memories cannot be manipulated and therefore are highly reliable for use as evidence in court.