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.
What is the most important real-world implication of this research?
- A
Memory is unaffected by the way questions are worded.
- Bcheck_circle
Eyewitness testimony can be unreliable, especially when leading questions are used.
- C
Children cannot give reliable testimony.
- D
Eyewitnesses are more accurate than physical evidence.
Explanation
These findings have major legal implications: leading questions or biased interviewing can distort eyewitness memory, so testimony alone may be unreliable, prompting reforms in police interviews and lineups.