Effects of postidentification feedback misinformation on eyewitness memory for the culprit
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Abstract
This research extended the traditional conceptualization of the postidentification feedback effect beyond retrospective self-reports to include the effects of feedback on eyewitnesses' recognition memory for the originally-witnessed culprit. Participant-witnesses made inaccurate identifications and were given confirming, disconfirming, or no feedback. Forty-eight hours later, witnesses were tested on their recognition memory for the culprit originally viewed. Disconfirming feedback inhibited witnesses' ability to discriminate between the culprit and never-before-seen filler photos. Witnesses who did not receive feedback showed the highest memory performance overall. These results provide preliminary support for the idea that postidentification feedback negatively affects eyewitness recognition memory.