The accuracy-confidence correlation in eyewitness testimony: limits and extensions of the retrospective self-awareness effect.
This research extended Kassin's (1985) finding that retrospective self-awareness (RSA) increases the correlation between eyewitness accuracy and confidence. In Experiment 1, 91 mock witnesses saw a crime, answered questions, made an identification decision, and rated their confidence. RSA increased the accuracy-confidence correlation for witnesses who made an identification and for those who were high but not low in public self-consciousness. A 2nd experiment varied accountability and revealed that high accountability increased the accuracy-confidence correlation but that the RSA effect occurred even under low-accountability conditions. In both studies, observers could not distinguish between accurate and inaccurate witnesses. Together, these findings define the limits of the RSA effect and provide mixed support for a self-perception account of this effect.
Kassin
S M
SM
Department of Psychology, Bronfman Science Center, Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts 01267.
Rigby
S
S
Castillo
S R
SR
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001364:Awareness; D003416:Criminal Law; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012649:Self Concept