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Evaluating earwitness identification procedures: adapting pre-parade instructions and parade procedure

Evaluating earwitness identification procedures: adapting pre-parade instructions and parade procedure

Smith, Harriet, Roeser, Jens, Pautz, Nikolas, Davis, Josh P. ORCID: 0000-0003-0017-7159 , Robson, Jeremy, Wright, David, Braber, Natalie and Stacy, Paula (2022) Evaluating earwitness identification procedures: adapting pre-parade instructions and parade procedure. Memory, 31 (1). pp. 147-161. ISSN 0965-8211 (Print), 1464-0686 (Online) (doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2022.2129065)

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Abstract

Voice identification parades can be unreliable, as earwitness responses are error-prone. In this paper we tested performance across serial and sequential procedures, and varied pre-parade instructions, with the aim of reducing errors. The participants heard a target voice and later attempted to identify it from a parade. In Experiment 1 they were either warned that the target may or may not be present (standard warning) or encouraged to consider responding “not present” because of the associated risk of a wrongful conviction (strong warning). Strong warnings prompted a conservative criterion shift, with participants less likely to make a positive identification regardless of whether the target was present. In contrast to previous findings, we found no statistically reliable difference in accuracy between serial and sequential parades. Experiment 2 ruled out a potential confound in Experiment 1. Taken together, our results suggest that adapting pre-parade instructions provides a simple way of reducing the risk of false identifications.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: voice identification; lineup instructions; earwitness; serial; sequential
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group: Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences
Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development
Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development > Centre for Thinking and Learning
Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Human Sciences (HUM)
Last Modified: 11 Jul 2023 13:13
URI: http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/38141

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