Eye Witness Testimony Questions
Eye Witness Testimony Questions
Q1.
Psychologists have carried out research into the use of cognitive interviews. One possible
ethical issue which might arise during this research is protection of participants from harm.
Explain how psychologists could deal with this ethical issue.
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(Total 3 marks)
Q2.
Traditionally, police have questioned eye witnesses using the standard interview
procedure. This involves a period of free recall about an event, followed by specific
questions. However, an increasing number of police forces are now using the cognitive
interview technique.
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(Total 4 marks)
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Q3.
Outline how one research study investigated the accuracy of eyewitness testimony
(EWT).
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(Total 4 marks)
Q4.
Outline and evaluate research into the effects of anxiety on the accuracy of eyewitness
testimony.
(Total 12 marks)
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Q5.
Cognitive interviews have been developed to improve witness recall. Identify and explain
two techniques used in the cognitive interview.
Technique 1 ..........................................................................................................
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Technique 2 ..........................................................................................................
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(Total 6 marks)
Q6.
A psychologist carried out a field experiment to investigate the accuracy of eyewitness
testimony. The participants were pupils and parents attending a school concert. Just
before the concert began, two professional actors had an argument on the stage. During
the argument, one actor pushed the other actor. Both actors then left the stage. Some of
the audience were approached as they left the concert and were asked to take part in an
experiment. Those who agreed were taken to a quiet room and were asked some
questions about the argument. For some participants, the questions included, “Did you
see the man in glasses push the other man?” In fact, neither man was wearing glasses.
The participants were then asked to describe the argument in their own words.
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(2)
(b) Other than ethical issues, outline one weakness of using a field experiment in this
investigation.
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(2)
(c) Suggest why the psychologist included the question about the man in glasses.
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(2)
(Total 6 marks)
Q7.
Explain why it might be better to carry out research into eyewitness testimony in the real
world, rather than in a laboratory.
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(Total 3 marks)
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Q8.
An American space shuttle exploded soon after it was launched. All of the astronauts on
board were killed. Crowds of people were watching, including friends and relatives of the
astronauts. Six months after the explosion, a student decided to investigate the accuracy
of some of the eyewitnesses’ memory of this event.
(a) Outline how the student could have used a cognitive interview to investigate this
event. Include at least one example of what the participants would be asked to do.
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(4)
(b) Explain how anxiety might have affected eyewitness testimony of this event. Refer
to psychological research in your answer.
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(6)
(Total 10 marks)
Q9.
Jenny was standing at a bus stop talking on her mobile phone. The weather was wet and
cold. Two men in the bus queue started arguing. One of the men was stabbed and badly
injured. Later that day the police questioned Jenny, using a cognitive interview. They
asked her to report everything she could remember about the incident even if it seemed
unimportant.
Apart from ‘report everything’, explain how the police could use a cognitive interview to
investigate what Jenny could remember.
In your answer you must refer to details from the passage above.
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(Total 4 marks)
Q10.
A researcher carried out an experiment to investigate misleading information. Participants
were shown a photograph in which a man and a woman were talking. The photograph
was then taken away and the participants were asked questions about it. Participants
were randomly allocated to condition one or condition two.
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(2)
(b) Name an appropriate experimental design which could be used in this experiment.
Explain why a repeated measures design would be unsuitable to use in this
experiment.
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Explanation ..................................................................................................
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(4)
(c) Explain why it would be appropriate to use a pilot study as part of this experiment.
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(4)
(d) In this experiment, participants were asked to look at a photograph rather than
watch a live conversation. Explain one strength and one limitation of carrying out
the experiment in this way.
Strength .......................................................................................................
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Limitation ......................................................................................................
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(4)
(e) Describe at least one other research study into misleading information. In your
answer you should include details of what participants were asked to do and what
results were found.
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(6)
(Total 20 marks)
Q11.
Some psychologists argue that there is always more information about an event in a
person’s memory than can be recalled at any one time. This means that eye-witness
recall can be improved by using certain techniques and methods.
Describe and evaluate at least one way of improving eye-witness recall. Refer to
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evidence in your answer.
(Total 12 marks)
Q12.
Some psychologists argue that there is always more information about an event in a
person’s memory than can be recalled at any one time. This means that eye-witness
recall can be improved by using certain techniques and methods.
Describe and evaluate at least one way of improving eye-witness recall. Refer to
evidence in your answer.
(Total 16 marks)
Q13.
Outline one study that has investigated the effect of anxiety on eyewitness testimony.
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(Total 4 marks)
Q14.
Outline and evaluate research into the effects of misleading information on eyewitness
testimony.
(Total 8 marks)
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Q15.
(a) One technique used in cognitive interviews is ‘report everything’. When using this
technique, the police officer in this investigation read the following instructions to the
participants:
“Please tell me everything you can remember about what you saw in the film. Do not
leave anything out, even the small details you think may be unimportant.”
Identify one other technique which could have been used by the police officer in this
cognitive interview. Write down the instructions that he could have read out to the
participants.
Technique ....................................................................................................
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(3)
(b) The psychologist also recorded the number of correct items recalled and the
number of incorrect items recalled in each type of interview. The following results
were obtained:
Cognitive Interview Standard Interview
Mean number of
incorrect 8 8
items recalled
From these results, what might the psychologist conclude about the effectiveness of
cognitive interviews?
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(2)
(Total 5 marks)
Q16.
Outline how a cognitive interview can be used to improve the accuracy of eyewitness
testimony (EWT).
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(Total 4 marks)
Q17.
Outline and evaluate research into the effects of leading questions on the accuracy of
eyewitness testimony.
(Total 8 marks)
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Q18.
Identify and outline two techniques that may be used in a cognitive interview.
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(Total 4 marks)
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M1.
AO3 = 3
Simply identifying or naming one or more potentially relevant ways of dealing with the
ethical issue – maximum 1 mark. For example, confidentiality, anonymity, debrief. Further
marks for explaining how psychologists could deal with this ethical issue.
For example:
M2.
Please note that the AOs for the new AQA Specification (Sept 2015 onwards) have
changed. Under the new Specification the following system of AOs applies:
AO2 = 4
The main techniques used in a cognitive interview include context reinstatement (CR),
reporting everything (RE), recall from a changed perspective (CP) recall in reverse order.
Candidates who show some understanding of a cognitive interview, e.g. by naming /
outlining one or more of the techniques above, but make no attempt to explain a
difference should be awarded a maximum of 2 marks. Further marks for elaboration, eg a
standard interview might just ask witnesses to recall an event, but a cognitive interview
could ask them to recall the context in which the event occurred. This could include
environmental details (such as the weather) and emotional factors (such as how they felt
at the time).
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M3.
AO1 = 4
Answers can refer to any research study relating to eyewitness testimony. This may be by
naming a relevant study, or by identifying the study in some other way. Likely research
would include a number of studies by Loftus including those into the role of leading
questions, and Yuille & Cutshall (1986) who investigated evidence from an actual crime.
Studies into factors affecting the accuracy of EWT including anxiety (eg weapon focus) or
age of witnesses would also be relevant. Flin et al (1992) used a staged event and
compared deterioration of children’s and adults’ memories over time, while Karpel et al
(2001) showed a video of a robbery and compared information given by young adults (17
– 25) with that given by older adults (65 – 85). Allport and Postman’s (1947) study using a
picture of two men arguing is relevant to EWT. However, Bartlett’s research using a story
or simple drawings is not.
One mark for a basic outline of the method, eg in Loftus and Palmer’s study, participants
were asked questions about a film. Three further marks for accurate details, eg
participants were tested in a laboratory situation. They were asked how fast a car was
travelling when an accident occurred. Some questions included the words “smashed into”.
Others included collided with, bumped into, hit or contacted.
Whilst the question does not ask for findings, conclusions, or criticisms, candidates may
receive credit for procedural detail included in such material.
M4.
Please note that the AOs for the new AQA Specification (Sept 2015 onwards) have
changed. Under the new Specification the following system of AOs applies:
Although the essential content for this mark scheme remains the same, mark schemes for
the new AQA Specification (Sept 2015 onwards) take a different format as follows:
• A single set of numbered levels (formerly bands) to cover all skills
• Content appears as a bulleted list
• No IDA expectation in A Level essays, however, credit for references to issues,
debates and approaches where relevant.
AO1 = 6
Candidates must discuss research where the anxiety component is clear.
Candidates might refer to the Yerkes-Dodson law which suggests moderate anxiety is
associated with better recall than very high or very low anxiety.
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In Loftus’s (1979) weapon focus experiment more participants correctly identified a person
when they were holding a pen (49%) than when they were holding a knife covered in
blood (33%). Loftus and Burns (1982) found participants who saw a violent version of a
crime where a boy was shot in the face had impaired recall for events leading up to the
incident.
However, in a real life study Yuille and Cutshall (1986) found witnesses who had been
most distressed at the time of a shooting gave the most accurate account five months
later. Also Christianson and Hubinette (1993) found victims of genuine bank robberies
were more accurate in their recall than bystanders.
AO2 = 6
Evaluation might relate to the contradictory nature of the research, possibly linked to lack
of ecological validity in laboratory studies. Problems of control might also be relevant, eg
in Yuille & Cutshall’s study those who experienced the highest levels of stress were closer
to the event, which might have helped their recall. Ethical issues could also be relevant as
could the practical applications of research.
AO1 AO2
Knowledge and understanding Analysis and evaluation
4-3 marks Less detailed but generally 4-3 marks Reasonable evaluationMaterial
accurate is not always used effectively but produces a
Less detailed but generally accurate reasonable commentary.
answer that demonstrates relevant Reasonable evaluation of research.
knowledge and understanding. A range of issues and/or evidence in limited
There is some evidence of selection of depth, or a narrower range in greater depth.
material to address the question. A reasonably coherent answer.
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0 marks 0 marks
No creditworthy material. No creditworthy material.
M5.
AO1 = 6
The main techniques used in the cognitive interview are summarised below.
Recall from changed perspective – trying to mentally recreate the situation from different
points of view eg describing what another witness present at the scene would have seen.
Recall in reverse order – the witness is asked to recall the scene in a different
chronological order eg from the end to the beginning.
Report everything – the interviewer encourages the witness to report all details about the
event, even though these details may seem to be unimportant.
M6.
Please note that the AOs for the new AQA Specification (Sept 2015 onwards) have
changed. Under the new Specification the following system of AOs applies:
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(a) AO3 = 2
A field experiment takes place in the real world rather than in a carefully controlled
environment.
The IV is manipulated by the experimenter.
One mark for reference to the environment, real world, naturally occurring, etc.
One mark for reference to manipulating / changing an independent variable.
Candidates who simply restate the words – an experiment carried out in a field –
should receive no credit.
(b) AO3 = 2
One weakness of using a field experiment is lack of control of variables. In this case,
the participants would be different distances from the staged argument.
It would be difficult to replicate the experiment precisely. Sampling difficulties.
One mark for brief identification of a relevant weakness.
Second mark for some elaboration.
(c) AO2 = 2
M7.
AO3 = 3
Candidates are likely to refer to the fact that in real life settings research has high validity
because the findings can be generalised to other similar situations. It is therefore more
likely to be relevant eg to eyewitness testimony in court cases. There are often real
consequences / emotional impact in real life which do not occur in laboratory
investigations.
In a laboratory participants may show demand characteristics because they know they are
in an experiment. This is less likely in real world settings.
Answers which refer to advantages of laboratory research or disadvantages of real world
research are not relevant and should not receive credit.
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1 mark for a brief explanation eg higher ecological validity.
Further marks for some elaboration as above.
M8.
Please note that the AOs for the new AQA Specification (Sept 2015 onwards) have
changed. Under the new Specification the following system of AOs applies:
Although the essential content for this mark scheme remains the same, mark schemes for
the new AQA Specification (Sept 2015 onwards) take a different format as follows:
• A single set of numbered levels (formerly bands) to cover all skills
• Content appears as a bulleted list
• No IDA expectation in A Level essays, however, credit for references to issues,
debates and approaches where relevant.
(a) AO2 = 4
The main techniques used in the cognitive interview are summarised below.
Context reinstatement – trying to mentally recreate an image of the situation,
including details of the environment, such as the weather conditions and the
individual’s emotional state including their feelings at the time of the incident.
Recall from changed perspective – trying to mentally recreate the situation from
different points of view eg describing what another witness present at the scene
would have seen.
Recall in reverse order – the witness is asked to recall the scene in a different
chronological order eg from the end to the beginning.
Report everything – the interviewer encourages the witness to report all details
about the event, even though these details may seem to be unimportant.
1 mark for naming one relevant technique.
2 marks for naming two or more relevant techniques or for a very brief outline of how
one technique could be used.
Further marks for elaboration. Candidates who refer to only one technique should
include more detail than those who refer to more than one.
3 or 4 marks can be awarded if the outline could relate to this event.
(b) AO2 = 6
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Candidates must refer to research where the anxiety component is clear.
Candidates might refer to the Yerkes-Dodson law which suggests moderate anxiety
is associated with better recall than very high or very low anxiety. In this case friends
and relatives might show worse recall than other people in the crowd.
Laboratory based research has generally shown impaired recall in high anxiety
conditions. In Loftus’s (1979) weapon focus experiment more participants correctly
identified a person when they were holding a pen (49%) than when they were
holding a knife covered in blood (33%).
Loftus and Burns (1982) found participants who saw a violent version of a crime
where a boy was shot in the face had impaired recall for events leading up to the
incident.
However, in a real life study Yuille and Cutshill (1986) found witnesses who had
been most distressed at the time of a shooting gave the most accurate account five
months later. Also Christianson and Hubinette (1993) found victims of genuine bank
robberies were more accurate in their recall than bystanders.
There is a range of acceptable answers to this question and marks should be given
for effective use of the material.
Answers which do not make explicit reference to this event should be awarded a
maximum of 4 marks.
6 marks Effective explanation
Accurate and reasonably detailed explanation of how anxiety might affect eye-
witness testimony of this event that demonstrates sound knowledge and
understanding of relevant research.
3 – 2 marks Basic
Basic explanation of how anxiety might affect eye-witness testimony of this event
has that demonstrates some knowledge of relevant research but detail may be
muddled.
0 marks
No creditworthy information.
M9.
AO2 = 4
The answer should clearly relate to one or more of the main techniques used in a
cognitive interview (other than report everything):
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Context reinstatement.
Recall from a changed perspective.
Recall in reverse order.
And / or the main additional features of the enhanced cognitive interview:
Encourage to relax and speak slowly.
Offer comments to help clarify their statements.
Adapt questions to suit the understanding of individual witnesses.
1 mark for simple identification of a relevant cognitive technique, or a very brief suggestion
eg “tell me what you saw in reverse order.”
2 marks for naming two or more relevant techniques or for a very brief outline of how one
technique could be used eg “tell me what you saw in reverse order, starting with when the
man was stabbed. A maximum of 2 marks can be awarded if there is no reference to
details in the passage.
Further marks for accurate elaboration including reference to details in the passage.
Candidates who refer to only one technique should include more detail than those who
refer to more than one.
M10.
Please note that the AOs for the new AQA Specification (Sept 2015 onwards) have
changed. Under the new Specification the following system of AOs applies:
Although the essential content for this mark scheme remains the same, mark schemes for
the new AQA Specification (Sept 2015 onwards) take a different format as follows:
• A single set of numbered levels (formerly bands) to cover all skills
• Content appears as a bulleted list
• No IDA expectation in A Level essays, however, credit for references to issues,
debates and approaches where relevant.
(a) AO2 = 2
This is an example of misleading information because the word “youth” suggests the
man was young.
1 mark for a brief or muddled answer eg identifying the use of the word “youth” or “it
refers to age”.
2 marks for some accurate elaboration eg the answer clearly states that the man
was young or a youth or suggests that his age may influence the answer.
Credit answers which state that the information is misleading because the question
suggests there was a youth in the picture, when in fact there was only a man and a
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woman.
(c) AO3 = 4
In this experiment it could be used to check how long the participant should be given
to look at the picture so that the timing could be changed if it was too long or too
short. It could check the participants understand the questions asked and what they
are required to do. It could also be used to ask a few participants about their
experience of taking part.
Credit any appropriate answer which could apply to this investigation. No marks are
awarded for a definition of a pilot study. Explanations which do not relate to this
investigation maximum 2 marks.
AO3 Application of knowledge of research methods
2 marks Basic
Basic answer that demonstrates some understanding of why a pilot study would be
appropriate in this study, but lacks detail and may be muddled.
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1 mark Very brief/flawed
Very brief or flawed answer demonstrating very little understanding of why a pilot
study would be appropriate in this study.
0 marks
No creditworthy material.
(d) AO3 = 4
accurate elaboration.
(e) AO1 = 6
AO1 Knowledge and understanding
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and understanding of the procedures and findings of one or more relevant research
studies.
3 – 2 marks Basic
Basic answer that demonstrates some relevant knowledge and understanding of the
procedures and findings of one or more relevant research studies but lacks detail
and may be muddled.
1 mark Very brief/flawed
Very brief or flawed answer demonstrating very little knowledge of the procedures
and findings of one or more relevant research studies.
0 marks
No creditworthy material.
M11.
Marks for this question: AO1 = 6, AO3 = 6
Level Marks Description
0 No relevant content.
Please note that although the content for this mark scheme remains the same, on most
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mark schemes for the new AQA Specification (Sept 2015 onwards) content appears as a
bulleted list.
AO1
Most answers will focus on the cognitive interview technique but any method /
technique with a psychological basis should be credited (eg avoiding leading
questions). Likely content: the original cognitive interview – 4 features: restore
context; recall everything even trivial detail; recall in reverse order; recall from
another perspective. Credit also features of the enhanced cognitive interview eg
relax, speak slowly. Likely evidence: Geiselman (1985).
AO3
M12.
Marks for this question: AO1 = 6, AO3 = 10
Level Marks Description
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0 No relevant content.
Please note that although the content for this mark scheme remains the same, on most
mark schemes for the new AQA Specification (Sept 2015 onwards) content appears as a
bulleted list
AO1
Most answers will focus on the cognitive interview technique but any method /
technique with a psychological basis should be credited (eg avoiding leading
questions). Likely content: the original cognitive interview – 4 features: restore
context; recall everything even trivial detail; recall in reverse order; recall from
another perspective. Credit also features of the enhanced cognitive interview eg
relax, speak slowly. Likely evidence: Geiselman (1985).
AO3
M13.
Please note that the AOs for the new AQA Specification (Sept 2015 onwards) have
changed. Under the new Specification the following system of AOs applies:
Although the essential content for this mark scheme remains the same, mark schemes for
the new AQA Specification (Sept 2015 onwards) take a different format as follows:
• A single set of numbered levels (formerly bands) to cover all skills
• Content appears as a bulleted list
• No IDA expectation in A Level essays, however, credit for references to issues,
debates and approaches where relevant.
AO1 = 4
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Candidates must select a study which clearly relates to both anxiety and eyewitness
testimony. For full marks there must be some reference to what was done and what was
found.
In Loftus's (1979) weapon focus experiment more participants correctly identified a person
holding a pen (49%) than a person holding a knife covered in blood. Loftus and Burns
(1982) found participants who saw a violent version of a crime where a boy was shot in
the face had impaired recall for events leading up to the accident. Peters (1988) found
participants who visited a healthcare centre were better able to recognise a researcher
than a nurse who gave an injection. However, in a real life study Yuille and Cutshall
(1986) found witnesses who had been most distressed at the time of a shooting gave the
most accurate account five months later. Also Christianson and Hubinette (1993) found
victims of genuine bank robberies were more accurate in their recall than bystanders.
4 marks Accurate and reasonably detailed
Accurate and reasonably detailed answer that demonstrates sound knowledge and
understanding of one study into the effect of anxiety on eyewitness testimony.
There is appropriate selection of material to address the question.
2 marks Basic
Basic answer that demonstrates some relevant knowledge and understanding of
one study into the effect of anxiety on eyewitness testimony, but lacks detail and
may be muddled.
There is little evidence of selection of material to address the question.
0 marks
No creditworthy material.
M14.
Please note that the AOs for the new AQA Specification (Sept 2015 onwards) have
changed. Under the new Specification the following system of AOs applies:
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Although the essential content for this mark scheme remains the same, mark schemes for
the new AQA Specification (Sept 2015 onwards) take a different format as follows:
• A single set of numbered levels (formerly bands) to cover all skills
• Content appears as a bulleted list
• No IDA expectation in A Level essays, however, credit for references to issues,
debates and approaches where relevant.
AO1 = 4
AO2 = 4
Students are likely to refer to Loftus and Palmer’s (1974) experiment where the verb
in the critical question was changed (smashed, collided, bumped, hit or contacted.)
Other relevant research would be Loftus and Palmer asking participants “Did you
see any broken glass?” and Loftus et al’s (1978) study using a red Datsun and Stop
or Yield signs.
Research into anxiety and EWT is not relevant unless the student refers to leading
questions such as Yuille and Cutshall where the witnesses to a real-life shooting
appeared resistant to leading questions.
Examiners are reminded this is an 8 mark question. Students can focus on one
study in reasonable detail or more than one study in less detail.
AO1 AO2
Knowledge and understanding Evaluation / commentary
4 marks Accurate and reasonably 4 marks Effective commentary /
detailed evaluation
Accurate and reasonably detailed Effective use of material to address the
description that demonstrates sound question and provide informed
knowledge and understanding of commentary / evaluation. Broad range
research into misleading information. of issues in reasonable depth or a
There is appropriate selection of
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0 marks 0 marks
No creditworthy material. No creditworthy material.
M15.
(a) AO2 = 3
The answer must clearly relate to one or more of the main techniques used in
a cognitive interview (other than report everything):-
Context reinstatement
Recall from a changed perspective
Recall in reverse order
(b) AO3 = 2
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The researcher might conclude that the cognitive interview was effective
because more correct items were recalled, but it did not affect the number of
incorrect items recalled.
1 mark for stating there were more correct items recalled with the cognitive
interview than with the standard interview and the number of incorrect items
recalled was the same. (There is no reference to effectiveness).
M16.
Please note that the AOs for the new AQA Specification (Sept 2015 onwards) have
changed. Under the new Specification the following system of AOs applies:
Although the essential content for this mark scheme remains the same, mark schemes for
the new AQA Specification (Sept 2015 onwards) take a different format as follows:
• A single set of numbered levels (formerly bands) to cover all skills
• Content appears as a bulleted list
• No IDA expectation in A Level essays, however, credit for references to issues,
debates and approaches where relevant.
AO1 = 4
Note – There is a breadth / depth trade off here. Accurate answers which describe 1
technique in detail can be awarded full marks, as can answers which outline 4
techniques.
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chronological order e.g. from the end to the beginning.
Report everything – the interviewer encourages the witness to report all details
about the event, even though these details may seem unimportant.
2 marks Basic
Basic answer that demonstrates some relevant knowledge of the cognitive interview, but
lacks detail and may be muddled.
1 mark Very brief / flawed
Very brief or flawed answer demonstrating very little knowledge of the cognitive interview.
0 marks
No creditworthy material.
M17.
[AO1 = 4 and AO3 = 4]
Level Marks Description
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0 No relevant content.
Possible content:
• Loftus and Palmer’s (1974) study changing verb in critical question was
changed (smashed, collided, bumped, hit or contacted)
• Loftus and Palmer “Did you see any broken glass?”
• Loftus et al’s (1978) study using a red Datsun and Stop or Yield signs
• research into anxiety and EWT is not relevant without reference to leading
questions, eg Yuille and Cutshall study of a real-life shooting and resistance to
leading questions
• research into age of witness and misleading information may be relevant, eg
Warren et al (2005) found children more likely to be influenced by leading
questions than adults
• credit any other relevant research, studies and / or theories, eg post-event
contamination; confabulation; reconstructive memory.
M18.
[AO1 = 4]
Level Marks Description
Two techniques are clearly identified and outlined. Minor detail of outline is
2 3–4 sometimes lacking or there is slight inaccuracy. The answer as a whole is
clear with use of specialist terminology.
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0 No relevant content.
Possible content:
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E1.
Some candidates tackled this question well and were able to offer sensible suggestions
for protecting research participants from harm. Weaker answers were very brief, eg
‘confidentiality’, ‘debrief them’, etc without making it clear how this strategy would protect
the participant from harm.
E2.
There were some very good answers to this question. Many candidates had a clear
understanding of methods used in the cognitive interview technique and were able to
contrast them with the standard interview techniques. However, some weaker answers
showed poor understanding of the concepts of leading, open and closed questions and
there were some misunderstandings about the nature of cognitive interviews. Candidates
who ignored the requirement to address at least one difference could not access full
marks.
E3.
This was, again, a very straightforward question, but some candidates failed to notice the
word “how” and wasted time in writing unnecessary detail about findings and conclusions.
Most candidates chose an appropriate study but a common difficulty was disentangling
one Loftus study from another. It is advisable for students to practise writing out
summaries of studies in their own words in preparation for the exam. It was often clear
that candidates had a reasonable idea of how the study had been conducted but key
details were omitted (eg that it was a film / video / slide-show of an accident and not a real
one; that participants were divided into groups and each group had a different misleading
question, etc). The weapons focus study was a perfectly acceptable choice for this
question, but many candidates had a rather confused idea about the way this study was
conducted. Very few inappropriate studies were provided.
E4.
There were some excellent answers to this question. Candidates generally knew one or
more relevant studies and were able to give detailed and accurate descriptions. This often
included reference to the type of experiment used. Many candidates were also able to
make good use of theory, eg Yerkes-Dodson law, weapon focus, etc. Evaluation was
often better when competing findings were discussed, rather than when it was solely
based on judgements of reliability, validity and ethical issues in the research. Some
candidates focused on irrelevant Loftus research, schema theory and age, with no
reference to anxiety.
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E5.
This question was answered well by most candidates. The majority of candidates could
identify two specific techniques and describe them adequately. Examples were often used
effectively. Some candidates identified relevant features of the enhanced cognitive
interview but failed to give the elaboration needed for full marks.
E6.
(a) Most candidates could identify the real world setting of a field experiment but a
substantial number of answers were unclear when referring to the manipulation of
the independent variable by the experimenter. It was common for candidates to
write that the independent variable was controlled but not to add that it was varied or
manipulated.
(c) Substantial numbers of candidates were able to say that the question about ‘the
man in glasses’ was a leading / misleading question and it had been presented
because the effect on EWT was being assessed. Some answers incorrectly alluded
to its inclusion on the basis of its effect on anxiety.
E7.
This question was generally answered well. Most candidates focused on the higher
ecological validity provided by real-world studies. Weaker answers simply made this point
without any elaboration. Better answers explained why a real-world setting would provide
more ecological validity – usually in terms of heightened anxiety and / or consequentiality
associated with real-life events. The best answers made reference to EWT studies rather
than simply stating the general advantages of real-life studies over laboratory studies.
E8.
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(a) This question was generally answered well with candidates showing good
understanding of the techniques used in the cognitive interview. Although
candidates could score full marks by giving outlines that could relate to the event in
the stem. It would generally be beneficial to candidates if they could engage
explicitly with the stem in questions requiring application of knowledge.
(b) There were some impressive responses where candidates effectively used a range
of research evidence on the effects of anxiety on EWT to answer this question.
Some candidates, however, failed to access top marks because they simply
described research without applying their knowledge to this particular event. This
was particularly true when candidates just described the Loftus ‘weapon focus’ study
without making it relevant to the shuttle explosion and, in some cases, without even
explaining its relevance to anxiety.
E9.
There were a high proportion of good answers to this question. Students who failed to
score full marks sometimes described the ‘report everything’ technique (not required)
under the heading ‘re-instate the context’. Some answers made no reference to the
context despite an explicit requirement to refer to details from the passage. Other students
remembered to refer to details from the passage for the first technique but forgot to do so
when describing a second or third technique.
E10.
(a) Mostly appropriate answers were provided. Many answers referred to the term
‘youth’ misleading participants as it suggested the man in the photograph was young
and this could influence the answer. Others said the reference to ‘youth’ was
misleading because it suggested an extra person, a ‘youth’, was part of the
photograph. Some answers suffered from poor expression resulting in a muddled
answer.
(b) There were still a number of students who did not seem to understand the term
‘experimental design’ and who tried to answer by stating types of experiments such
as laboratory or field. Even amongst students who understood the concept, there
was some difficulty when it came to identifying the appropriate design. The
explanation of why a repeated measures design was unsuitable was in some
instances prefaced by unnecessary time wasting explanations of why an
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independent groups design would be a good idea.
(c) Although most students could explain the benefits of a pilot study, far fewer students
gave an explanation in the context of this experiment, as required.
(d) There were some clear and effective answers to this question where students
showed understanding and could apply this to the scenario. Some students
however, failed to understand the question and perhaps would have benefited from
re-reading the stem.
(e) Although there were some ‘accurate and reasonably detailed answers’ there were
many more that were just ‘generally accurate’. As in previous exam series, when
asked to describe a research study, some students did not even know one study
sufficiently well to access the top mark band. Some students had a little muddled
knowledge of several (usually Loftus’ studies) and produced answers where the
research was so poorly described it was difficult to identify. There were, however,
some good answers which accurately described one or more studies. Some
students wasted time evaluating the research.
E11.
Most successful answers to this question focused on the cognitive interview, although
more general strategies such as ‘avoiding leading questions’ were also credited. Weaker
responses were those where students answered a rather different question and discussed
‘factors affecting eye-witness testimony’. In such cases, credit was fairly minimal. Material
on line-up procedures gained credit as long as it was used to address the question set.
E12.
Most successful answers to this question focused on the cognitive interview, although
more general strategies such as ‘avoiding leading questions’ were also credited. Weaker
responses were those where students answered a rather different question and discussed
‘factors affecting eye-witness testimony’. In such cases, credit was fairly minimal. Material
on line-up procedures gained credit as long as it was used to address the question set.
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E13.
This was also answered well. Many students produced an accurate and reasonably
detailed answer, often describing Loftus’s (1979) weapon focus experiment. Students who
did not score full marks usually failed to accurately identify the dependent variable in this
study. Less impressive answers tried to use the Yerkes-Dodson curve to explain
apparently contradictory findings in the area. Few of these outlined a study at all. Another
problem was the failure to focus on one study even though this was stressed in the
question.
E14.
There were many good answers to this question, mostly focused on the work of Loftus
and her colleagues. There were some inaccuracies with the figures, eg speeds of the cars
and percentages, and who saw non-existent broken glass, etc, but on the whole answers
demonstrated good knowledge. It was evident that students usually scored better marks
where they outlined one or two research studies accurately and in reasonable detail,
rather than when they outlined several studies less accurately. A substantial number did
not see the ‘outline and evaluate’ instruction. They tended to outline studies in great detail,
but included no evaluation. Therefore, despite showing very good knowledge of the topic
they were limited to four out of eight marks.
Evaluation was often effective where issues such as ecological validity, sampling
issues or applications of the research were addressed. However, evaluation points
were not always sustained or developed, meaning much of the commentary was
basic, and some evaluation was more speculative where students referred to the
trauma of watching a short video clip or looking at slides demonstrating two cars
hitting each other. Comments about an independent groups design allowing
individual differences to affect results were also marginal.
E15.
Some students failed to read the stem carefully and found it difficult to answer the
question. It was insufficient to identify a technique as 'mental re-instatement'. Students
were required to suggest the context was being mentally re-instated. Where students
chose to write about mental re-instatement of the context, they needed to remember that
they should refer to the context of watching a film of a violent crime. Many focussed on
creating mental context within the film rather than of watching the film. Students who
chose 're-instate the context' sometimes muddled their instructions to give instructions to
'recall everything'. Generally those who chose to focus on 'recall from a changed
perspective', or 'recall in reverse order' found it easier to write instructions for the
participants. A few students did not write instructions in direct speech and were limited to
a maximum of one mark for the instructions.
Where students did not score full marks for this question, they had usually failed to refer to
all of the figures in the table, or to draw any conclusion from the figures.
E16.
This question was answered well. A lot of students scored full marks by outlining a range
of techniques or by focussing on fewer techniques in more detail. Context re-instatement
was sometimes referred to as mental re-instatement which begs the question of what is
being mentally re-instated.
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