Loftus and Pickrell

Aim of the study to see whether false memories can be constructed
Memory can be disrupted in two ways. Proactive and retroactive. Proactive is the disruption of the memory caused by events that occurred before the memory. Reactive is disruption caused by events experienced after the memory.
Subjects
1. 24 participants, 3 male and 21 females (aged between 18-53). Recruited by students of the University of Washington in pairs (along with a relative). Relative had to be older and knowledgeable about the subject's childhood experiences.
  1. Participants believed they were taking part in a survey that looked to study the kind of things one may be able to remember from their childhood.
  2. Relatives were approached and asked to provide information about three true events from the subject's life. They were also asked to tell where the family shopped when the subject was young and whether the subject had ever been lost at around the age of 5. They were also asked to share which family members accompanied them on the trip and what kind of shops might have attracted the subject when they were 5.
    1. Subjects were then mailed a five page booklet, containing four events (3 true and 1 false). The false event was always third in sequence. Subjects were asked to share what they remembered about such events.
      1. Some of the elements of the false event included being lost for an extended period of time, crying, being lost in a mall or department store at the age of 5, being found and aided by an elderly woman and reunited with the family.
        After the receipt of the booklets by the researchers, two interviews were scheduled. The first 1-2 weeks later. The other another 1-2 weeks later.
        Two females conducted the interview and recorded the sessions. Some interviews occurred face to face whilst others occurred over the phone.
        Subjects asked to recall everything they could about the events. Also asked to rate the events for clarity (1 to 10) and how confident (1 to 5) they were that they could recall more pertaining to the events given more time. They were told not to discuss with family members. Second interview was also the same as the first except at the end subjects were debriefed.
Results
1. 24 Subjects were asked to recall a total of 72 true events and they remembered 68% (49) of the events.
  1. 7 of the 24 subjects remembered the false event. This then dropped to 6 subjects (25%) after the first interview.
    1. More words used to describe true events (138) as compared to false events (49).
      1. Clarity ratings higher for true events (6.3) compared to false (2.8)
        Confidence ratings were also higher for the true events (2.7 for first interview and 2.2 for the second interview) as compared to false events (1.8 and 1.4)
        At the end of the interview subjects were asked to identify the false event, 19 out of 24 guessed correctly.
2. Weaknesses:
  1. Getting lost in the shopping mall is a common occurrence. Sample size is also small and disproportionate. Ethical issues are also prevalent.

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Loftus and Pickrell

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