An Experiment to Determine Whether People Are Influenced by Leading Questions

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An Experiment to Determine Whether People Are Influenced by Leading Questions Abstract The purpose of the experiment was to determine whether people are influenced by leading questions. This experiment is a replication of an experiment conducted by Loftus and Palmer in 1974. In the experiment the independent variable was the verb used (contact, smash). The dependant variable was the speed estimated by the participants when recalling the picture of the crash from their memory. The results gave evidence that specific words could influence the retrieval of a memory. This is caused because of a schema associated with the verb. Contact is a less dramatic verb than smash, leading to different estimated speeds. This same concept results in creating false memories depending on how a question is asked. Similarly, the Loftus and Palmer experiment showed a correlation between the wording of a question and what the participant recalled. In conclusion, the verbs used in a question prime the participant for a schema to the verb used, influencing the answer given. Introduction Memory can be stated as: the processes by which people and other organisms encode, store, and retrieve information. Our memory can make errors, which can lead to creating false memories. Many early studies of memory in psychology (e.g. Bartlett, 1932) provide evidence that memories are not accurate records of experiences. Remembering is rather a process of trying to make sense of incoming information by connecting it with prior information already stored in the brain. According to Bartlett, memory is stored as schemas, simplified mental representations of knowledge. Schemas influence the memory storage and retrieval. Bartlett conducted an experiment in w... ... middle of paper ... ...n 2 Answer Speed Estimation 1 white and white 6000 55 2 white and white 11 40 3 white and silver 12 55 4 silver and white 12 50 5 yellow and silver 12 120 6 white and silver 12 65 7 white and tan 10 60 8 white and tan 10 50 9 white and tan 10 50 10 gray and yellow 13 80 11 white and tan 10 35 Appendix 9 Mean: µ = ∑x / n Experimental condition 2 (“smash”): ∑x = 437 km/hrs, n = 11 participants Mean = 437/11 km/hrs = 39.7 km/hrs Experimental condition 1 (“contact”): ∑x = 660 km/hrs, n = 11 participants Mean = 660/11 km/hrs = 60 km/hrs Mean percentage difference between condition 1 and 2: 60-39.7 • 100 = 50% Appendix 10 Standard deviation: σ = ∑x • f - ¯x Standard deviation in experimental condition 1 (“contact”): 27.59 Standard deviation in experimental condition 2 (“smash”): 23.23

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