Using metamemory measures and memory tests to estimate eyewitness free recall performance

ABSTRACT

Using a mock witness methodology, we investigated the predictive value of metamemory measures and objective memory tests as indicators of eyewitness free recall performance. Participants (n = 208) first completed a metamemory assessment that included assessments of self-rated memory capacity, memory development and use of strategies. In a separate session, participants watched a mock-crime video and provided a free recall account, followed by one out of four independent memory tests (i.e., free recall, cued recall, face recognition and general knowledge). Accuracy, amount of details reported, confidence and over/underconfidence in the eyewitness free recall were the main dependent variables. Results indicated three main findings: (1) subjective assessments of memory capacity were not related to eyewitness free recall performance; (2) although individual confidence and over/underconfidence was somewhat stable across different memory tests, accuracy was less stable; and (3) individuals with higher self-rated memory capacity had a slightly stronger confidence-accuracy relation in free recall. These results are discussed with respect to metamemory assessments and performance stability across memory tests of different domains.

KEYWORDS:

• Eyewitness testimony
• metamemory
• free recall
• confidence
• memory

Acknowledgements

We thank Joseph Finch, Heidi Mcintosh, and Leigha West for their assistance with data collection and data coding.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data Availability Statement

All datasets and R analysis scripts for this study can be found at https://osf.io/cywtk/?view_only=69155f972cf84e3bbad4321cfece650d

ORCID

Renan Benigno Saraiva http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9461-7594

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a fellowship award from the Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate Program the House of Legal Psychology (EMJD-LP) with Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) 2013–0036 and Specific Grant Agreement (SGA) 2013-0036.