A re-examination of the effects of biased lineup instructions in eyewitness identification.
A meta-analytic review of research comparing biased and unbiased instructions in eyewitness identification experiments showed an asymmetry; specifically, that biased instructions led to a large and consistent decrease in accuracy in target-absent lineups, but produced inconsistent results for target-present lineups, with an average effect size near zero (Steblay, 1997). The results for target-present lineups are surprising, and are inconsistent with statistical decision theories (i.e., Green & Swets, 1966). A re-examination of the relevant studies and the meta-analysis of those studies shows clear evidence that correct identification rates do increase with biased lineup instructions, and that biased witnesses make correct identifications at a rate considerably above chance. Implications for theory, as well as police procedure and policy, are discussed.
Clark
Steven E
SE
Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, 92521, USA. steven.clark@ucr.edu
D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D014796:Visual Perception