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Cognitive Factors in Witness Testimony Quiz

#1

Which of the following factors can affect the accuracy of witness testimony?

All of the above
Explanation

Various factors like stress, leading questions, and memory distortion can influence witness accuracy.

#2

Which factor could potentially decrease the accuracy of eyewitness testimony?

Use of leading questions during interviews
Explanation

Leading questions can bias memory recall and decrease accuracy.

#3

Which cognitive factor can lead to inaccurate eyewitness identifications?

High level of emotional arousal
Explanation

Emotional arousal can impair memory and lead to inaccurate identifications.

#4

Which factor could potentially enhance eyewitness memory recall?

Providing feedback on the accuracy of the witness's identification
Explanation

Feedback can improve the accuracy of memory recall in eyewitnesses.

#5

Which factor could potentially decrease the reliability of eyewitness testimony?

Experiencing high levels of stress during the event
Explanation

High stress levels can impair memory and decrease the reliability of testimony.

#6

What term refers to the phenomenon where memory of an event can be influenced by post-event information?

Misinformation effect
Explanation

Memory distortion due to exposure to misleading information after an event.

#7

Which cognitive process involves filling in gaps in memory with false information?

Reconstruction
Explanation

The process of adding false details to incomplete memories based on expectations.

#8

Which theory suggests that memory is not a perfect recording of events but rather a reconstruction based on schemas and prior knowledge?

Schema theory
Explanation

Memory is a reconstruction influenced by existing mental frameworks.

#9

What term describes the process by which memories are distorted due to the influence of one's expectations or beliefs?

Confirmation bias
Explanation

Distortion of memory based on pre-existing beliefs or expectations.

#10

Which cognitive phenomenon involves mistakenly recalling events that never actually occurred?

False memory
Explanation

Recollection of events that did not happen, often due to suggestion or misinformation.

#11

What term refers to the phenomenon where memories fade or change over time?

Transience
Explanation

Degradation or alteration of memories over time.

#12

Which factor could potentially improve eyewitness accuracy in identifying a suspect?

Feedback on the accuracy of the witness's identification
Explanation

Providing feedback can enhance the reliability of eyewitness identifications.

#13

Which of the following statements is true regarding weapon focus?

It decreases memory accuracy for central details of a crime scene.
Explanation

Focus on a weapon can reduce the accuracy of memory for other details.

#14

What is the term for the tendency to falsely remember one's past attitudes and behavior as more consistent with the present than they actually were?

Reminiscence bias
Explanation

Recollection bias leading to the belief that past attitudes and behaviors align more with present beliefs.

#15

Which factor could potentially increase the reliability of eyewitness identification?

Use of a sequential lineup procedure
Explanation

Sequential lineups reduce the likelihood of mistaken identity compared to simultaneous lineups.

#16

Which of the following can help mitigate the effects of weapon focus?

Providing witnesses with training on focusing techniques
Explanation

Training on focusing techniques can mitigate the negative impact of weapon focus.

#17

Which cognitive phenomenon involves falsely remembering events from one's childhood?

Cryptomnesia
Explanation

Mistakenly recalling childhood events as original ideas.

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