Do Pre-Admonition Suggestions Moderate the Effect of Unbiased Lineup Instructions?

• NCJ Number: 238094
• Journal: Legal and Criminological Psychology Volume: 17 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2012 Pages: 165-176
• Author(s): Deah S. Quinlivan; Jeffrey S. Neuschatz; Brian L. Cutler; Gary L. Wells; Joy McClung; Devin L. Harker
• Date Published: February 2012
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This study examined the additive and interactive effects of pre-admonition suggestion and lineup instructions (biased or unbiased) on eyewitness identification rates.

Abstract

The authors of this study examined the additive and interactive effects of pre-admonition suggestion and lineup instructions (biased or unbiased) on eyewitness identification rates. Participants watched a mock crime video, completed a target-absent lineup identification, and completed a retrospective memory questionnaire. Prior to attempting an identification, participants were either exposed or not exposed to pre-admonition suggestions and received biased or unbiased lineup instructions. The pre-admonition suggestion indicated that it was likely that the perpetrator was in the lineup (surely, you can pick the perpetrator). The pre-admonition suggestion increased false identification in the unbiased lineup condition. Furthermore, those who received the pre-admonition suggestion were more certain in their identifications as well as other testimony-relevant judgments than were those who did not receive the pre-admonition suggestion. These results suggest that pre-lineup suggestion can mitigate the beneficial effects of unbiased lineup instructions. (Published Abstract)