Comments on: Wrongful Conviction: 50% of Mistaken Eyewitnesses Certain After Positive Feedback http://www.spring.org.uk/2008/02/wrongful-conviction-feedback-increases.php Understand your mind with the science of psychology - Mon, 04 May 2009 10:30:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: brent http://www.spring.org.uk/2008/02/wrongful-conviction-feedback-increases.php/comment-page-1#comment-21390 brent Sat, 15 Mar 2008 13:09:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2008/02/wrongful-conviction-50-of-mistaken-eyewitnesses-certain-after-positive-feedback.php#comment-21390 "In other words, the experimental design is to simply trick the participants, and then measure the degree to which that trick was successful."<br /><br />uh. yeah. that's right. clever isn't it? "In other words, the experimental design is to simply trick the participants, and then measure the degree to which that trick was successful."

uh. yeah. that's right. clever isn't it?

]]> By: Rick Peterson http://www.spring.org.uk/2008/02/wrongful-conviction-feedback-increases.php/comment-page-1#comment-21296 Rick Peterson Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:28:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2008/02/wrongful-conviction-50-of-mistaken-eyewitnesses-certain-after-positive-feedback.php#comment-21296 I was held up at gunpoint back in '81 while working at a convenience store...Couple weeks later I was asked to come to the police station and see if I could spot the suspect from a photo line up...I remember the officer making a comment "That they arrested the guy from the excellent description I gave"...Now looking back...I see the positive feedback he was giving me...for picking the correct suspect out of the line up... I was held up at gunpoint back in '81 while working at a convenience store...Couple weeks later I was asked to come to the police station and see if I could spot the suspect from a photo line up...I remember the officer making a comment "That they arrested the guy from the excellent description I gave"...Now looking back...I see the positive feedback he was giving me...for picking the correct suspect out of the line up...

]]> By: steve http://www.spring.org.uk/2008/02/wrongful-conviction-feedback-increases.php/comment-page-1#comment-21235 steve Sat, 09 Feb 2008 21:50:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2008/02/wrongful-conviction-50-of-mistaken-eyewitnesses-certain-after-positive-feedback.php#comment-21235 The experimental design is flawed, in my humble opinion. When someone of authority suggests a certain truth (you got the right suspect), there is compelling evidence for the participant to trust them, based on their perception of the situation. Unlike an actual eyewitness interviewee, these folks are "participants" in a study, with a clearly defined researcher who would presumably know the true killer.<br /><br />In other words, the experimental design is to simply trick the participants, and then measure the degree to which that trick was successful.<br /><br />We should be measuring suggestibilty, but eliminating this type of noise would be important. The experimental design is flawed, in my humble opinion. When someone of authority suggests a certain truth (you got the right suspect), there is compelling evidence for the participant to trust them, based on their perception of the situation. Unlike an actual eyewitness interviewee, these folks are "participants" in a study, with a clearly defined researcher who would presumably know the true killer.

In other words, the experimental design is to simply trick the participants, and then measure the degree to which that trick was successful.

We should be measuring suggestibilty, but eliminating this type of noise would be important.

]]> By: Jeremy (PsyBlog author) http://www.spring.org.uk/2008/02/wrongful-conviction-feedback-increases.php/comment-page-1#comment-21219 Jeremy (PsyBlog author) Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:38:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2008/02/wrongful-conviction-50-of-mistaken-eyewitnesses-certain-after-positive-feedback.php#comment-21219 Dr X, who knows how widespread knowledge of this research finding is in law enforcement agencies? And how many good cops/bad cops there are... Dr X, who knows how widespread knowledge of this research finding is in law enforcement agencies? And how many good cops/bad cops there are...

]]> By: drx http://www.spring.org.uk/2008/02/wrongful-conviction-feedback-increases.php/comment-page-1#comment-21213 drx Thu, 07 Feb 2008 01:18:00 +0000 http://spring.org.uk/2008/02/wrongful-conviction-50-of-mistaken-eyewitnesses-certain-after-positive-feedback.php#comment-21213 Good post, Jeremy. I wonder if the widespread failure to implement precautions in obtaining eyewitness information arises more from ignorance, disbelief in research findings or from a more pernicious desire to confirm police officer's beliefs about a suspect's guilt. Good post, Jeremy. I wonder if the widespread failure to implement precautions in obtaining eyewitness information arises more from ignorance, disbelief in research findings or from a more pernicious desire to confirm police officer's beliefs about a suspect's guilt.

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