The US legal system places a lot of importance on eyewitness
memory. Most people would report that they can accurately convey what they saw
in a particular situation. However, these ideas are not supported by research.
Instead, research shows that memory is quite malleable and is affected by many
factors. This research repeatedly demonstrates that people do not remember
exactly what they experienced. This module’s experiment will show you firsthand
how memory for events is not always one hundred percent accurate.
Access the CogLab demonstration False Memory. Follow the
instructions to complete the demonstration to familiarize yourself with false
memory. Then locate at least one research study from a peer-reviewed journal
that examined how eyewitness memory can be affected by false memories.
Based on your research, respond to the following situation:
You are considered to be an expert in false memories, and a
local district attorney has therefore requested your expertise on the following
case:
On Tuesday, March 6, 2007, a bank was robbed in Slidell, LA.
It was just after opening time, 9:04 a.m., and there were barely any customers,
when a car arrived and parked in the side parking lot of the bank. Two men came
out of the car and walked to the entrance. Both wore dark clothing. Upon
entering the bank, they held out guns and asked for the manager. When the
manager identified herself, the smaller of the two robbers ordered her to open
the safe. Meanwhile, the other robber, a tall, and burley man, walked around
holding his gun in his outstretched arm, and threatening the remaining
employees and customers. The manager complied and the smaller robber collected
all the money and valuables from the safe. After five minutes, the big robber
asked if his companion was ready to go. When he was, the two ran back to their
car, and drove away.
The district attorney has asked that you create a
presentation about false memory and explain how it might influence this case.
He asks that you specifically address the following:
Describe false memory and false memory experiments. Use the
CogLab experiment to illustrate false memory experiments, special distracters,
and normal distracters. Describe at least one research study from a peer-reviewed
journal that investigated how eyewitness memory can be affected by false
memories. Explain how false memory might influence this particular case. Use
specifics from the description of the case, the CogLab experiment, and research
to support your answer. Using evidence from the case, the CogLab experiment,
and outside research, justify why eyewitness testimonies should or should not
carry weight in criminal proceedings. Discuss any procedures which can increase
or reduce the occurrence of false memories when reporting eyewitness events.
Remember, your presentation is designed to help the jury understand false
memory and how it might influence the eyewitness testimony of this case. You
will have ten minutes to present.
Since this is a legal case, you must include formally
written slide notes (proper grammar, proper paragraphs, APA formatting, and
academic tone) with research to support your claims. The presentation will be a
legal document in this case, so make it worthy of being legally binding!
Develop an 5–6-slide presentation in PowerPoint format.
Apply APA standards to citation of sources.
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