Can Questioning Induce Forgetting? Retrieval‐Induced Forgetting of Eyewitness Information

Abstract

Summary: In eyewitness situations, questioning can be seen as a form of retrieval practice that may have detrimental effects on eyewitness memory. Memory research has demonstrated that retrieval practice may not only enhance memory for practiced information but also induce forgetting of related information. The present study examined the effect of retrieval practice on forgetting in eyewitness memory. First, we investigated whether asking questions about particular offender characteristics can induce forgetting of other offender characteristics. Second, we examined whether this forgetting effect is limited to information from the practiced offender or may also influence memory for characteristics of others present in the crime scene. Third, we studied whether forgetting of eyewitness information occurs in the absence of output interference effects. We found that questioning induced forgetting of offender characteristics. Moreover, the forgetting effect was not limited to information about the practiced offender. Finally, forgetting was found even when output order was experimentally controlled.

More Lies Lead to More Memory Impairments in Daily Life

“…However, the participants in the denying group probably did not need to retrieve their memories but simply to give a denial response, regardless of whether the asked-about item was on their shopping list. It has been suggested that the retrieval-induced forgetting effect occurs when people are asked questions concerning eyewitness information because they need to retrieve their memories to answer the questions ( Camp et al, 2012 ). The same situation may have occurred in the truth-telling and mixed lying groups in the present study, causing these groups to perform worse in the item memory test than those who may not have needed to retrieve their memories, such as the denying group.…”

Retrieval-Induced Forgetting in the Feigning Amnesia for a Crime Paradigm

“…Output interference indicates that sometimes other explanations, rather than the inhibition-based mechanism, can account for the forgetting due to the retrieval practice (e.g., competition-based mechanism; Verde, 2012; Raaijmakers and Jakab, 2013). Still, even controlling for output interference, recent research has indicated that RIF effects still take place, for instance, in witness circumstances (e.g., Camp et al, 2012).…”

Accuracy and Amount of Eyewitness Information: Comparing Victims and Bystanders Across Question Types

“…When an eyewitness is questioned during an interview about an event, this process involves retrieving relevant information from their memory (Camp et al 2012). During the interview, the interviewer always dominates the interview whilst the eyewitnesses are placed in the passive role to respond to the questions (Fisher and Geiselman 2010;Fisher and Schreiber 2007;Milne et al 2007).…”