Knowledge of eyewitness memory

Abstract

A questionnaire was administered to introductory psychology, advanced psychology, and advanced law students to assess their knowledge of eyewitness memory. The data were obtained in a way that allowed a comparison with similar research in the U.S.A. and the U.K. Our findings indicated that a limited knowledge of eyewitness memory exists among the three samples, and that the level of knowledge of the combined sample is similar to that of the international samples. The findings are discussed in terms of the implications for the evaluation of eyewitness testimony, and the role that psychologists who are expert in memory research may play in communicating relevant information.