Perspective Effects on Recall in a Testimony Paradigm. Issue 4 (2nd October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ginet, Magali; Dodier, Olivier; Bardin, Brigitte; Désert, Michel; Greffeuille, Catherine; Verkampt, Fanny
• Is Part Of: Journal of general psychology. Volume 145:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 313
• Page End: 341
• Publication Date: 2018-10-02
• Subjects: Encoding perspective -- change of perspective instruction -- eyewitness testimony -- cognitive interview; Psychology, Experimental -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; 150.724
• DOI: 10.1080/00221309.2018.1494126
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1309

Abstract

Abstract: The two present studies examined the influence of perspective instructions given during encoding and retrieval on the recall of a visual event. Participants viewed slides or a film depicting a day in the life of a man. Before viewing the to-be-remembered event, they were instructed to adopt the perspective of an alcoholic vs. an unemployed man vs. no perspective (Experiment 1), or of an unemployed man vs . no perspective (Experiment 2). Participants in the first study were interviewed twice, with the second recall being preceded by either a change perspective instruction or without any specific instruction. In the second study, participants were interviewed using either a cognitive interview (CI) or a CI without the change perspective instruction. Results showed that adopting a perspective during encoding impaired recall performance and failed to demonstrate a significant benefit of the change perspective instruction. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.