In a classic study by Loftus and Palmer, participants watched a film of a car accident and then answered questions. Researchers varied a single verb in one critical question: "About how fast were the cars going when they ___ each other?" with the verb being "smashed," "collided," "bumped," "hit," or "contacted." Participants who heard "smashed" estimated significantly higher speeds, and one week later were more likely to falsely report having seen broken glass.
These results best demonstrate:
- Acheck_circle
The misinformation effect, in which post-event information distorts memory
- B
The serial position effect on word lists
- C
Long-term potentiation strengthening accurate recall
- D
Sensory memory limitations
Explanation
The misinformation effect occurs when exposure to misleading information after an event alters one's memory of the event. The verb wording supplied new (mis)information that participants integrated into their memory.