Eyewitness Misidentification

Interactive effects of photospread procedures (blind administration or has knowledge of suspect identity) and presentation techniques (sequential or simultaneous photospreads) on false eyewitness identification rates were examined. Of 117 subjects (57 men and 60 women), 87 served as a witness sample and 30 as a photospread administrator sample. Witnesses viewed a 20-sec. mock robbery video prior to viewing a photospread of six photographs either simultaneously or sequentially. Half of the administrators, prior to displaying the photospreads, were made aware of the photograph of the designated suspect (single-blind condition). Consistent with previous findings, sequential presentation was associated with both lower overall false identification rates as well as lower suspect designated-misidentification rates. In each case, there was evidence that administrators' knowledge increased false identification rates more in simultaneous than in sequential presentation conditions. Implications for administrations by police investigators are discussed

Administration (probate law · Criminology · Data mining · Eyewitness identification · Identification (biology · Obstetrics · Presentation (obstetrics · Relation (database · Sample (material · Suspect · Witness · Computer Science · Deception detection and forensic psychology · Law · Medicine · Memory Processes and Influences · Psychology · Radiology practices and education · Social Psychology

• Eyewitness identification

  Gary L Wells, Eric P Seelau•Psychology Public Policy and Law•1995

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• Choosing, confidence, and accuracy

  Siegfried L Sporer, Steven Penrod et al.•Psychological Bulletin•1995

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