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On Increasing the Usefulness of Eyewitness Research

On Increasing the Usefulness of Eyewitness Research Law and Human Behavior, Vol. 10, No. 4, 1986 Note/Discussion On Increasing the Usefulness of Eyewitness Research Glenn S. Sanders* A large amount of psychological research on eyewitness testimony has been con- ducted in the last fifteen years (see Wells & Loftus, 1984, and Yarmey, 1979, for comprehensive reviews). The thrust of this research is that witnesses often are confident and convincing despite serious errors in their descriptions and identifi- cations, and that various conditions and procedures can either increase or de- crease the chances of these errors being committed and detected. The potential value of this research to police investigators is manifold. Cases may be forwarded prematurely for prosecution if eyewitness testimony is given more credence than it deserves. Discrepancies within or between witnesses' rec- ollections could lead to undue suspicion of motives and to damaging levels of ill will if the inherent weaknesses of human memory are not fully appreciated. Pro- cedures could be modified so as to avoid the introduction of bias or to stimulate more complete and accurate testimony. To what extent will police investigators use psychological research on eye- witnesses as an aid in their work? I recently conducted interviews that shed con- siderable http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Law and Human Behavior American Psychological Association

On Increasing the Usefulness of Eyewitness Research

Sanders, Glenn S.
Law and Human Behavior , Volume 10 (4): 3 – Dec 1, 1986
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Publisher
American Psychological Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 American Psychological Association
ISSN
0147-7307
eISSN
1573-661X
DOI
10.1007/BF01047345
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Law and Human Behavior, Vol. 10, No. 4, 1986 Note/Discussion On Increasing the Usefulness of Eyewitness Research Glenn S. Sanders* A large amount of psychological research on eyewitness testimony has been con- ducted in the last fifteen years (see Wells & Loftus, 1984, and Yarmey, 1979, for comprehensive reviews). The thrust of this research is that witnesses often are confident and convincing despite serious errors in their descriptions and identifi- cations, and that various conditions and procedures can either increase or de- crease the chances of these errors being committed and detected. The potential value of this research to police investigators is manifold. Cases may be forwarded prematurely for prosecution if eyewitness testimony is given more credence than it deserves. Discrepancies within or between witnesses' rec- ollections could lead to undue suspicion of motives and to damaging levels of ill will if the inherent weaknesses of human memory are not fully appreciated. Pro- cedures could be modified so as to avoid the introduction of bias or to stimulate more complete and accurate testimony. To what extent will police investigators use psychological research on eye- witnesses as an aid in their work? I recently conducted interviews that shed con- siderable

Journal

Law and Human Behavior – American Psychological Association

Published: Dec 1, 1986

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