The confidence-accuracy relationship in eyewitness identification: effects of lineup instructions, foil similarity, and target-absent base rates

Journal of Experimental Psychology. Applied
Neil Brewer, Gary L Wells

Abstract

Discriminating accurate from mistaken eyewitness identifications is a major issue facing criminal justice systems. This study examined whether eyewitness confidence assists such decisions under a variety of conditions using a confidence-accuracy (CA) calibration approach. Participants (N = 1,200) viewed a simulated crime and attempted 2 separate identifications from 8-person target-present or target-absent lineups. Confidence and accuracy were calibrated for choosers (but not nonchoosers) for both targets under all conditions. Lower overconfidence was associated with higher diagnosticity, lower target-absent base rates, and shorter identification latencies. Although researchers agree that courtroom expressions of confidence are uninformative, our findings indicate that confidence assessments obtained immediately after a positive identification can provide a useful guide for investigators about the likely accuracy of an identification.

References

Apr 1, 1979·American Journal of Orthodontics·B Schwaninger, N Vickers-Schwaninger
Apr 1, 1994·Perception & Psychophysics·J V Baranski, W M Petrusic
May 1, 1993·The American Psychologist·G L Wells
Apr 26, 2000·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·T A BuseyE F Loftus
Jun 14, 2002·Law and Human Behavior·Neil Brewer, Anne Burke
Sep 21, 2002·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Applied·Gary L Wells, Elizabeth A Olson
Dec 21, 2002·Best Practice & Research. Clinical Anaesthesiology·Anthony R Brown
Jun 20, 2003·The Journal of Applied Psychology·Nathan Weber, Neil Brewer
Sep 27, 2003·British Journal of Psychology·Amina MemonRay Bull
Apr 7, 2004·The Journal of Applied Psychology·Carolyn SemmlerGary L Wells
Oct 7, 2004·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Applied·Nathan WeberAmber Keast
Oct 7, 2004·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Applied·Nathan Weber, Neil Brewer
Dec 8, 2004·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·John T Wixted, Vincent Stretch
May 27, 2006·Law and Human Behavior·Neil BrewerNathan Weber
Jul 25, 2006·Nature·A N JamesA Balmford
Jan 1, 1984·The Journal of General Psychology·R E ChristiaansenJ D Sweeney

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 24, 2007·Law and Human Behavior·John S ShawKristin E Pontoski
Feb 7, 2008·Law and Human Behavior·R C L LindsayMarilyn R Lindsay
Aug 23, 2008·Law and Human Behavior·Geralda OdinotPeter J van Koppen
Apr 12, 2007·Psychological Science·Daniel B Wright, Elin M Skagerberg
Aug 15, 2012·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·Mark Tippens ReinitzGeoffrey R Loftus
Dec 25, 2015·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·John T WixtedWilliam Wells
Mar 27, 2010·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Carl N Stephan, Jody Cicolini
Dec 4, 2009·Acta Psychologica·Matthew A PalmerNathan Weber
May 22, 2007·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Amber KeastGary L Wells
Aug 27, 2013·Acta Psychologica·Michelle M Arnold
Jun 1, 2013·Memory·Henry L Roediger, K Andrew DeSoto
Oct 6, 2016·Royal Society Open Science·Travis M Seale-Carlisle, Laura Mickes
May 1, 2012·Perspectives on Psychological Science : a Journal of the Association for Psychological Science·Steven E Clark
Aug 31, 2012·Psychological Science·Neil BrewerD Stephen Lindsay
Jul 28, 2016·Psychological Science·Melissa F ColloffDeryn Strange
May 27, 2017·Human Factors·Cleotilde GonzalezJerome Busemeyer
Jan 18, 2018·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Saty Satya-Murti, Joseph J Lockhart
Oct 8, 2016·Nature Communications·Jason M ScimecaDavid Badre
Oct 9, 2019·Memory·Harriet M J SmithPaula C Stacey
May 7, 2020·Perspectives on Psychological Science : a Journal of the Association for Psychological Science·Andrew M SmithGary L Wells
Apr 12, 2017·Psychological Science in the Public Interest : a Journal of the American Psychological Society·John T Wixted, Gary L Wells
Nov 1, 2006·Psychological Science in the Public Interest : a Journal of the American Psychological Society·Gary L WellsSteven D Penrod
Nov 9, 2019·Memory·Renan Benigno SaraivaPeter J van Koppen
Sep 21, 2019·Perspectives on Psychological Science : a Journal of the Association for Psychological Science·Andrew M Smith, Amy-May Leach
May 15, 2020·Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications·Andrew L CohenAndrea M Cataldo
Nov 25, 2020·Memory·Shari R BerkowitzElizabeth F Loftus
Nov 13, 2020·Attention, Perception & Psychophysics·Luyan Ji, William G Hayward
Feb 12, 2021·Scientific Reports·Sergii YaremenkoLorraine Hope
Feb 10, 2021·Memory·Roy GronckiJames D Sauer
Mar 25, 2021·British Journal of Psychology·Harriet M J SmithHeather D Flowe
Jun 30, 2021·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Neil BrewerEmily Barnett
Jul 11, 2021·Scientific Reports·Melissa F ColloffHeather D Flowe
Nov 4, 2021·Psychological Science in the Public Interest : a Journal of the American Psychological Society·John T WixtedBrandon L Garrett

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.