U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Pre-Feedback Eyewitness Statements: Proposed Safeguard Against Feedback Effects on Evaluations of Eyewitness Testimony
NCJ Number
              250422

Author(s)
          Laura Smalarz
Date Published

December 2015
Length
              90 pages
Annotation
              This study tested a novel safeguard intended to correct the effects of an investigator's complimenting responses to an eyewitness who has just made a positive identification of a suspect, since recent research has shown that such compliments given to the eyewitness after his/her identification tend to reinforce the eyewitness' commitment to the identification and impede subsequent efforts to evaluate the strength and accuracy of the identification.
Abstract
              The importance of this research is established by noting that mistaken, but highly confident, eyewitness testimony has been used to convict innocent people in approximately 220 criminal cases in the United States. In the current research, some eyewitnesses, but not others, were asked a series of testimony-relevant questions about the witnessed event and their identification decision prior to receiving complimentary responses on an identification or no responses at all from those managing the identification. The eyewitness statements prior to any complimentary response were videotaped and subsequently assessed by evaluators as to the accuracy of eyewitnesses' identifications. This study determined that videotaping an eyewitness identification prior to any complimentary response to the identification did not protect against or correct for the effects of subsequent compliments on evaluations of eyewitness identifications. Still, this research has theoretical value, because it fuels a number of questions that have the potential to further develop an understanding of how post-identification compliments influence eyewitnesses. The most promising path for future research involves determining whether the conditions under which compliments are given the eyewitness identification do not impair a subsequent evaluation of the strength and accuracy of an eyewitness' testimony. 3 figures, 72 references, and appended experimental design and still photos from the witnessed event
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2013-IJ-CX-0010


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Research (Applied/Empirical)
                                Report (Study/Research)
                                Report (Grant Sponsored)


  
  
        
  Award
        Pre-feedback eyewitness statements:  Proposed inoculant and antidote for feedback effects on evaluations of eyewitness testimony
    
  
  
Date Published: December 1, 2015
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Case processing
        Court Procedures
        Courts
        Evaluation
        Eyewitness Memory



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Cognitive Science and the Law
                  School Transitions as a Turning Point for Gang Status
                  Occurrence and Associative Value of Non-Identifiable Fingermarks
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov