Against

• Evidence 1:

  Eyewitness testimonies are not reliable

  • Loftfus and palmers research suggested post event information gets incorporated into the initial memory
  • Eg: leading questions lead to memory bias and verbs used alter perception (speed estimates) essentially altering memory representation

  THEREFORE: highlights that questions and verbs used alters memory which may led to an inaccurate eye witness testimony resulting in false-imprisonment
• Evidence 2:


  • Legal system: when a witness is questioned by an authorative figure, recollections of actual event memory is distorted
  • Leading to retruals costing £124 billion annually and £44,000-£52,000 + to keep someone in prison

  THEREFORE: the results of eye witness testimonies can have an economic backlash due to money spent on possible wrongful convictions
• Evidence 3:

  • Loftus and Zanni
  • “Did you see A broken headlight?” : 7% reported yes
  • “Did you see THE broken headlight?” : 17% said yes

  THEREFORE: demonstrating subtle changes of wording can influence memory representation