Post-identification feedback effects: Investigators and evaluators

Abstract

We investigated the effects of post-identification feedback and viewing conditions on beliefs and interviewing tactics of participant-investigators, crime reports of participant-witnesses and participant-evaluators' credibility judgments of the witnesses. Study 1 participants assumed the roles of witness and investigator (N=167 pairs). Witnesses' view of a simulated crime video was manipulated by distance from viewing monitor: 2 or 9ft. Participants made a line-up identification and received either positive feedback or no feedback. Significant effects for witnesses and investigators were associated with viewing condition and post-identification feedback. Interviews between investigator-witness pairs were videotaped. Investigators asked more positive, leading questions when they were led to believe that the witness had identified the suspect. In Study 2 evaluators (N=302) viewed the witness-investigator interviews. Viewing condition had no effect on judgments of witness credibility but positive post-identification feedback led evaluators to judge witnesses as more credible than witnesses who received no feedback. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.