Faces in Motion: Age-Related Changes in Eyewitness Identification Performance in Simultaneous, Sequential, and Elimination Video Lineups

Abstract

The identification performance of children (5 to 6years, n=180; 9 to 10years, n=180) and adults (n=180) was examined using three types of video lineup procedures: simultaneous, sequential and elimination. Participants viewed a videotaped staged theft and then attempted to identify the culprit from a target-present or target-absent video lineup. Correct identifications in simultaneous and elimination video lineups did not differ as a function of age. The sequential video lineup was associated with a reduction in correct identifications for both child groups compared with adults. With respect to the target-absent lineup condition, the video elimination lineup was associated with an increase in correct rejection rates for adult witnesses. Age was also significantly associated with accuracy. Differences in correct rejection rates were observed between adults and children and also between the two child groups. Implications and future directions are discussed. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.