Loftus, E.F. & Palmer, J.C. (1974)
Reconstruction of auto-mobile destruction: An example of the interaction between language and memory. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behaviour, 13, 585 -589
Study 1
In your own words, explain the AIM of this study.
The Independent Variable (IV) is the one that the experimenters manipulate and the Dependent Variable is the one that the experimenters measure.
Complete the following table.
|
Independent Variable |
Dependent Variable |
How many conditions of the IV were there? List them.
What did the experimenters control in this study?
What was the critical question?
Explain why the researchers asked several other questions even though they were only interested in the answer to one question.
Complete the following results table: What conclusions can you draw from these
results?
|
Condition (verb) |
Mean estimate |
|
Smashed |
|
|
Collided |
|
|
Bumped |
|
|
Hit |
|
|
Contacted |
Study 2
In your own words, what was the AIM of the second study?
Complete the following table for the second study.
|
Independent Variable |
Dependent Variable |
In this study there were three conditions: ‘hit’ , ‘smashed’, and a control group. Explain why researchers often use a control group in their studies.
What was the critical question in this study?
Complete the following results table (N is shorthand for number of participants).
|
Condition |
N |
Yes to critical Q |
No to critical Q |
|
SMASHED |
|||
|
HIT |
|||
|
Control |
What conclusions can you draw from these results?
Read the discussion of this article again. Loftus and Palmer offer two possible explanations for their findings. Explain what is meant by:
a. Distortion
b. Response Bias
Give some examples of ‘leading questions’ in everyday life and suggest how they might influence our responses. Which explanation (distortion or response bias) is the most likely for each of your examples?