NCJ Number
137552
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 17 Issue: 3/4 Dated: (1992) Pages: 197-211
Date Published
1992
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of waiting conditions on witnesses in relation to the degree of honesty, intelligence, and credibility perceived by those who watched videotapes of the subjects' testimony.
Abstract
In both experiments, a group of 30 witnesses was divided into three groups; one group waited 40 minutes before testifying; the second group waited 20 minutes, and the third group did not wait. Those who waited reported being significantly more nervous than those who did not wait. The second experiment used a simulated 3-person jury to rate the videotaped subjects. The results were inconclusive regarding the four observer variables of interest. Demographic variables including gender, age, and race also had no significant impact on the ratings. An additional analysis focused on the actual change in opinion of the jurors compared with the advocated change. Those whose viewpoints were most similar to the speakers had the largest proportional change in opinion after watching the videotapes. 1 figure and 12 references