NCJ Number
50916
Journal
Journal of Applied Psychology Volume: 63 Issue: 3 Dated: (JUNE 1978) Pages: 345-351
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
WITNESSES OF A STAGED THEFT ARE MORE LIKELY TO MAKE AN ACCURATE IDENTIFICATION OF THE THIEF WHEN THEY KNOW THE OBJECT HAS HIGH VALUE. WITH NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF VALUE THIS DIFFERENCE IN ACCURACY DISAPPEARS.
Abstract
AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY 65 MALE AND FEMALE STUDENTS WITNESSED THE 'THEFT' OF A BROWN PAPER BAG. BEFORE THE EXPERIMENT BEGAN 16 WERE TOLD THAT IT CONTAINED A CALCULATOR A STUDENT WOULD PICK UP, 16 WERE TOLD IT CONTAINED CIGARETTES, AND 33 WERE TOLD NOTHING ALTHOUGH 17 WERE TOLD IT HAD A CALCULATOR AND 16 CIGARETTES AFTER THE THEFT. THE 65 SUBJECTS REMAINED AFTER THOSE WHO WERE SUSPICIOUS ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF THE EXPERIMENT HAD BEEN SCREENED OUT. THOSE WHO THOUGHT THE BAG CONTAINED A CALCULATOR HAD 56 PERCENT ACCURACY WHEN SHOWN PICTURES OF SUSPECTS AND ASKED TO MAKE AN IDENTIFICATION. THOSE WHO THOUGHT IT CONTAINED CIGARETTES BUT LATER WERE GIVEN THE HIGH VALUE HAD 12.5 PERCENT ACCURACY WHILE THOSE GIVEN THE LOW VALUE HAD 35.3 PERCENT ACCURACY. CERTAINTY OF IDENTIFICATION HAD NO RELATIONSHIP TO ACCURACY. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT THOSE WHO FELT THE CRIME WAS SERIOUS HAD A LARGER PERCENTAGE OF CORRECT IDENTIFICATION THAN THOSE WHO DID NOT FEEL IT WAS SERIOUS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT PROSECUTORS CAN PUT MORE FAITH IN EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATIONS WHEN THE CRIME IS A SERIOUS ONE. HOWEVER, THEY ARE WARNED AGAINST IDENTIFICATIONS MADE BY PERSONS WHO ARE POSITIVE. THE EXPERIMENT IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)