Cross-examination increases the likelihood of eyewitness error. Preceding research indicates that while being cross-examined children alter a lot of their originally correct responses. An experiment conducted by Maras & Valentine (2011) describes in which the result of cross-examination on accurateness of adult eyewitness testimony was explored.
There were twenty-two student participants who were placed into a co-witness condition, which resulted in memory agreement and recalled less accurately than witnesses in the control condition or individual condition. Following a 4 week postponement all participants were cross-examined by a trainee barrister, similar to a prosecutor. Subsequently there was no difference in accurateness among the two experimental groups with regard to cross-examination. Witnesses in both conditions made numerous alterations to their preceding reports by changing both originally accurate and inaccurate responses.
According to Elizabeth Loftus, a leading expert on human memory, eyewitness memory as, “a person’s episodic memory for a crime or other dramatic event that he or she has witnessed.” Often times there is a significant amount of emphasis with regard to the accuracy of an eyewitness because erroneous eyewitness testimony can have a severe outcome such as wrongful incarceration. Eyewitness testimony is the evidence provided in court by a person who witnessed a crime, with a view to identifying the perpetrator.
The Essay on Cross Cultural Learning Memory Studies
M ROL Project I - February 25, 2005 Focus: Cross-Cultural Studies of Learning and Memory Topic: Social and Cultural Differences in Learning Author: Zand ria Introduction: The need to understand cultural differences is obvious today. Many societies are multicultural, and many people and organizations collaborate across different ethnic and cultural boundaries. It is important that a person can ...
Eyewitness testimony is a compelling device used within the realm of the criminal justice system, because it is a promptly conventional type of substantiation of the facts that sanction guilty verdicts. It is without doubt that eyewitnesses to a crime are one of the most important people to the police when trying to get a conviction but we must remember that sometimes they can be un-reliable. However an extensive amount of research has confirmed that eyewitness memory can be exceedingly plastic.
The memory of an eyewitness can be distorted by suggestive information attained after the pertinent episode was observed (Loftus & Hoffman, 1989; Wright & Loftus, 1998), by the method of inquiry that a witness experiences (Loftus & Palmer, 1974; Loftus & Zanni, 1975) or by a constant bombardment of questions (Odinot, Walters, & Lavender, 2009).
Evidence has shown that eyewitnesses have also been prejudiced by ambiguous information attained during inquiry (Loftus, Miller, & Burns, 1978) or dialogue with a co-witness (Gabbert, Memon, & Allen, 2003).
Maras & Valentine (2011) pointed out that the cognitive interview was developed to avoid memory distortion and elicit accurate information from the eyewitness.
Maras & Valentine (2011) indicate that there has been a vast quantity of investigation regarding interviewing of eyewitnesses there has been comparatively modest exploration on the results of the cross-examination in court on the dependability of eyewitness testimony. The method of questioning generally used in cross-examination include question formats that can regulate the comprehensiveness and accurateness of the answer; including leading questions, use of negatives, closed questions, either/or questions, yes/no questions and multiple questions (Kebbell, Deprez, & Wagstaff, 2003; Kebbell, Hatton, & Johnson, 2004; Perry, McAuliff, Tam, Claycomb, Dostal, & Flanagan, 1995; Zajac, Gross, & Hayne, 2003).
The Term Paper on Top 50 Most Common Problems in Interview
A) The 15 most critical problems that can occur with interviews Some things should not be measured in an interview – few start an interview with a list of the things they want to assess. Many things just can’t be measured accurately during an interview including: many technical skills, team skills, intelligence, attitude, and physical skills. Giving them a work sample or test is often superior. ...
According to Maras & Valentine (2011) there are a number of essential discrepancies between an investigative interview and cross-examination. The authors also specify a large amount research presumes that the interview being conducted is with a cooperative witness who is trying to recollect as truthfully as possible. In a characteristic study project, deceptive details are initiated in a small fraction of questions in a post event questionnaire or interview. In comparison, cross-examination is expected to comprise of effective persuasion and an effort to deteriorate the witness’ self-assurance.
It is possible for a witness to face straightforward defiance to the accurateness of their report, and have a supplementary explanation put to them. Moreover, cross-examination may possibly be anticipated to be unfavorable to a witness testimony as a result of aspects which we know enhance a witnesses’ impressionability, such as a an extended postponement between witnessing the event and cross-examination (Read, Connolly, Toglia, Ross, & Lindsay, 2007) and the professed prominent standing and influence of the cross-examiner (Roper & Shewan, 2002).
The question arises of whether the effect is due to the vulnerability of children’s testimony or whether cross-examination would adversely affect the accuracy of adult eyewitness testimony.
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The Term Paper on Deception Cross Examination
Deception Whether conducted by the patrol officer, the victim's advocate, the prosecutor or the investigator assigned to a special unit in the criminal investigation division, the interview of a victim, witness, suspect or informant is a critical element of any investigation. Precious resources in the form of man power, money, time and equipment can be wasted because of the failure of the ...
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The Essay on Memory Memories Children Accurate
"Can our memories be described as accurate? Why or why not? What important implications might this have for our lives?" Memory is the tool we use to learn and think. We all use memory in our everyday lives. Memory is the mental faculty of retaining and recalling past experiences. We all reassure ourselves that our memories are accurate and precise. Many people believe that they would be able to ...
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