Older Eyewitnesses May Be Unreliable

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 24 Jun 2009 - 7:00 PDT

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Older eyewitnesses can inadvertently add or change aspects of their account if they have the chance to speak to another eyewitness. This is one of the findings of Jane Montague and colleagues from University of Derby who will present their research at the British Psychological Society's Division of Forensic Psychology's Annual Conference today, Wednesday 24th June. The conference is being held the University of Central Lancashire, Preston.

A group of 32 older participants were split in to two groups. The participants in the first group witnessed a DVD recording of a crime and recounted what they remembered - just after witnessing it and again one week later. The second group was made up of 'pairs' (either married couples or friends) who were interviewed using the same time scale but who had the opportunity to discuss what they had seen during the intervening week.

Preliminary results showed that some details were forgotten or slightly changed across the whole group whilst some similar added details (such as colours of clothing) appeared in the accounts from collaborators.

Jane said: "It is too early to draw firm conclusions but this does seem to indicate that having the opportunity to discuss what was seen with another witness does have an effect on what is reported afterwards. This could have major implications for the police trying to interview witnesses sometime after the event."

"Further research will establish whether it is this or the natural process of forgetting over time that is the more significant in influencing elderly witnesses' accounts of criminal incidents."

The conference is being held at the University of Central Lancashire from the 23rd to 25th July.

Source
British Psychological Society