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Eyewitness memory following discussion: using the MORI technique with a Western sample
Author(s) -
Garry Maryanne,
French Lauren,
Kinzett Toni,
Mori Kazuo
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
applied cognitive psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.719
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1099-0720
pISSN - 0888-4080
DOI - 10.1002/acp.1376
Subject(s) - conformity , psychology , parallels , misinformation , eyewitness memory , phenomenon , sample (material) , false memory , test (biology) , social psychology , cognitive psychology , recall , epistemology , computer security , computer science , mechanical engineering , paleontology , philosophy , chemistry , chromatography , engineering , biology
Researchers studying memory conformity have made significant advances in our understanding of the phenomenon, but have used methods with significant shortcomings. Mori's three‐stage method addresses many of these concerns. To date the technique has not been replicated on a Western sample. We present such a study, and discuss two significant improvements to Mori's method. We found that subjects were more likely to report the correct answer for non‐discussed critical details than discussed critical details. Our data also suggested that when subjects agreed with their partner's information during the discussion, they did so because they thought that information was accurate; only a minority of the time did they go along with their partner during discussion and revert to their own answer at the test. We draw parallels between the unknown mechanisms driving memory conformity effects and the search for mechanisms driving the misinformation effect two decades ago. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.