1. What factor can influence the accuracy of an eyewitness testimony?
A) Time of day
B) Stress level
C) Gender of the witness
D) Age of the witness
Answer: B) Stress level
Explanation: Stress can impair memory and attention, affecting how accurately a witness recalls events, especially in high-stress situations such as crimes.
2. Which of the following best describes the “weapon focus effect” in eyewitness testimony?
A) The difficulty in recalling minor details when a weapon is present
B) The increased memory accuracy when a weapon is used
C) The ability to focus on the weapon rather than the perpetrator’s face
D) The enhanced recall of the crime scene
Answer: A) The difficulty in recalling minor details when a weapon is present
Explanation: The weapon focus effect occurs when witnesses focus more on the weapon and less on other details, such as the criminal’s face or surroundings, leading to less accurate testimony.
3. What is the “misinformation effect” in the context of eyewitness testimony?
A) The witness correctly remembers all details of the event
B) The memory of an event is altered after being exposed to misleading information
C) The testimony is consistent across different witnesses
D) The witness refuses to testify based on personal reasons
Answer: B) The memory of an event is altered after being exposed to misleading information
Explanation: The misinformation effect occurs when post-event information interferes with the accuracy of a witness’s memory, leading to distortions in recall.
4. Which of the following is a key factor that can reduce the reliability of eyewitness testimony?
A) Presence of a clear and consistent description
B) Cross-race identification
C) Immediate recall of details
D) Multiple eyewitnesses
Answer: B) Cross-race identification
Explanation: People tend to be less accurate at identifying individuals of a different race, known as the cross-race effect or own-race bias, which reduces the reliability of eyewitness testimony.
5. What does “cognitive interview” refer to in the context of eyewitness testimony?
A) A method to mislead eyewitnesses into providing more accurate testimony
B) A technique to assist witnesses in recalling memories more accurately
C) A method used by police to interrogate suspects
D) A training session for improving memory recall
Answer: B) A technique to assist witnesses in recalling memories more accurately
Explanation: The cognitive interview involves asking open-ended questions, encouraging witnesses to recall events from multiple perspectives, and reinstating the context to help improve memory accuracy.
6. The presence of what type of stress can lead to an unreliable eyewitness testimony?
A) Positive stress
B) Emotional stress
C) Physical stress
D) Low-level stress
Answer: B) Emotional stress
Explanation: High emotional stress, especially in the aftermath of a traumatic event like witnessing a crime, can impair cognitive functions like attention and memory, making the testimony less reliable.
7. Which of the following is a reason eyewitness testimony may be inaccurate?
A) The witness recalls only the most important details
B) Memory decay and retrieval failure over time
C) Testimonies are typically well-coordinated
D) All witnesses remember identical details
Answer: B) Memory decay and retrieval failure over time
Explanation: Memory tends to fade and become less reliable over time, which is why eyewitness accounts may become inaccurate the longer it is between the event and the testimony.
8. The concept of “confidence malleability” in eyewitness testimony refers to:
A) The witness’s ability to stay calm during questioning
B) The ability to recall details without hesitation
C) How the confidence level of the witness may not reflect actual accuracy
D) The ability to testify in court
Answer: C) How the confidence level of the witness may not reflect actual accuracy
Explanation: Confidence malleability suggests that a witness’s confidence in their memory does not necessarily correlate with the accuracy of their recall, and it can be influenced by various factors.
9. What is a “lineup” in the context of eyewitness testimony?
A) A lineup of witnesses to discuss the case
B) A group of suspects presented to the eyewitness for identification
C) A description of the criminal presented to the jury
D) A timeline of events to guide the witness
Answer: B) A group of suspects presented to the eyewitness for identification
Explanation: A lineup is a police procedure where a witness is shown a group of individuals, including the suspect, to determine if they can correctly identify the perpetrator of the crime.
10. The “leading question effect” in eyewitness testimony refers to:
A) The influence of the phrasing of questions on a witness’s memory
B) The witness’s ability to recall more details after a leading question
C) The ability of witnesses to resist misleading questions
D) The accurate recall of event details
Answer: A) The influence of the phrasing of questions on a witness’s memory
Explanation: Leading questions, which suggest a certain answer, can distort a witness’s memory and lead to false recall, affecting the accuracy of the testimony.
11. Which of the following is a technique used to reduce the risk of false eyewitness identification?
A) Sequential lineups
B) Immediate confrontations
C) Group questioning
D) Hypnosis
Answer: A) Sequential lineups
Explanation: Sequential lineups, where suspects are shown one at a time rather than all at once, reduce the likelihood of false identifications by preventing witnesses from comparing individuals.
12. How does the age of an eyewitness typically affect their accuracy in giving testimony?
A) Older witnesses tend to be more accurate
B) Younger children are more accurate than adults
C) Older adults may have poorer recall and slower processing
D) Age has no significant effect on eyewitness accuracy
Answer: C) Older adults may have poorer recall and slower processing
Explanation: Older adults may experience a decline in memory recall and processing speed, making their eyewitness testimony potentially less reliable.
13. What effect does stress have on the reliability of eyewitness testimony in high-stakes situations?
A) Stress improves recall accuracy
B) Stress typically impairs the ability to focus on details
C) Stress has no impact on memory accuracy
D) Stress enhances the ability to recall vivid details
Answer: B) Stress typically impairs the ability to focus on details
Explanation: High-stress situations, such as witnessing a crime, can impair a witness’s ability to focus on important details, thus reducing the reliability of their testimony.
14. What is the role of “feedback” in eyewitness testimony?
A) Feedback can improve the accuracy of the recall
B) Positive feedback can make witnesses overconfident
C) Feedback helps witnesses forget details
D) Feedback does not influence the reliability of testimony
Answer: B) Positive feedback can make witnesses overconfident
Explanation: Providing feedback after an identification (e.g., telling a witness they did well) can lead to overconfidence, even if the identification was inaccurate, thus affecting the overall reliability of the testimony.
15. In legal terms, what does “testifying under oath” imply about the eyewitness testimony?
A) The testimony is less reliable
B) The witness is required to tell the truth
C) The witness cannot be questioned
D) The witness’s testimony is immediately accepted as accurate
Answer: B) The witness is required to tell the truth
Explanation: Testifying under oath means that the witness is legally bound to tell the truth, which is essential for ensuring the integrity of the testimony.
16. What does “reconstructive memory” mean in the context of eyewitness testimony?
A) The memory is perfectly preserved
B) The memory is prone to errors based on prior knowledge and beliefs
C) The memory always remains accurate over time
D) The memory is static and does not change
Answer: B) The memory is prone to errors based on prior knowledge and beliefs
Explanation: Reconstructive memory refers to the idea that memory is not a perfect recording, but rather it is reconstructed from various sources, including prior knowledge, expectations, and beliefs, which can lead to inaccuracies.
17. What is the primary purpose of an “in-court identification” by an eyewitness?
A) To identify the defendant without assistance
B) To provide additional evidence unrelated to the crime
C) To confirm the accuracy of a previous lineup identification
D) To testify about the events without recognizing the perpetrator
Answer: C) To confirm the accuracy of a previous lineup identification
Explanation: An in-court identification serves to confirm whether the witness correctly identified the perpetrator during a lineup, which is an important component of the trial process.
18. What is one of the risks associated with eyewitness testimony in criminal trials?
A) The witness may be too detailed in their testimony
B) Eyewitness testimony is always reliable
C) The witness may be influenced by post-event information
D) Eyewitnesses are always accurate in recalling events
Answer: C) The witness may be influenced by post-event information
Explanation: Witnesses can be influenced by things like media reports or other people’s accounts of the event, leading to altered or inaccurate testimony.
19. What is the role of the “retrieval-induced forgetting” phenomenon in eyewitness testimony?
A) It improves the accuracy of recall
B) It can lead to forgetting previously learned information due to the focus on new details
C) It causes witnesses to remember irrelevant details
D) It enhances the memory of peripheral events
Answer: B) It can lead to forgetting previously learned information due to the focus on new details
Explanation: Retrieval-induced forgetting occurs when focusing on recalling certain details causes a person to forget other information that might be relevant to the case.
20. Which of the following can be an effective method to help improve eyewitness testimony accuracy?
A) Immediate police questioning after the event
B) Asking leading questions
C) Delaying testimony until memories are solidified
D) Using a cognitive interview approach
Answer: D) Using a cognitive interview approach
Explanation: The cognitive interview technique encourages witnesses to recall details by providing a relaxed environment and asking open-ended questions, which can improve accuracy in testimony.
