The effect of different delivery modes of misinformation on false memories in adolescents and adults

Abstract

The current study examined the effects of different delivery modes of misinformation on false memory creation in adolescents and adults. Forty adolescents (14-15 year olds) and fifty-three adults (over 18) were instructed to watch a video. Following this, half of the participants were given direct-with interaction misinformation, in which misinformation was delivered by the experimenter and participants (co-witnesses) were able to interact before their memory was tested. The other half of the participants were given directwithout interaction misinformation, in which they listened to a narrative read aloud by the experimenter, without interacting. Lastly, all participants completed a memory test. We found that participants in the direct-without interaction group were more likely to report false memories compared to the direct-with interaction group. Furthermore, adolescents endorsed more misinformation details than adults. Our results provide a new perspective about the role of social factors in the occurrence of false memories.

Testing the efficacy of the cognitive interview to road traffic accident investigations

“…These developmental changes could affect the eyewitness performance among adolescents, for example reporting less details than adults (Jack et al, 2014;Pozzulo et al, 2013;Sheahan et al, 2017). However, Irwanda et al (2022) found that there was no statistical difference in true memory of adolescents and young adults. Their study also found that adolescents were more susceptible to misinformation and produced more false memories than young adults.…”

“…However, Irwanda et al (2022) found that there was no statistical difference in true memory of adolescents and young adults. Their study also found that adolescents were more susceptible to misinformation and produced more false memories than young adults.…”

“…A study by Irwanda et al (2022) indicated that adolescents endorsed more misinformation details than adults likely because Indonesian culture had high‐power distance during social interactions (Irawanto, 2009). This cultural rule made the adolescent group adopt more misinformation than the young adult group because they felt the obligation to respect the experimenter who was an adult.…”

Not universally sinful: Cultural aspects of memory sins.

“…Importantly, people may outwardly agree with others while knowing perfectly well that they do not actually agree (i.e., “compliance”; Gudjonsson, 2013) or because they have incorporated the suggested information into their own memory (i.e., false memory). Research on false memories implanted by suggestion has overwhelmingly been conducted with participants from WEIRD countries, with a few exceptions in Indonesian (Irwanda et al, 2022; Maulina et al, 2021) and Chinese (Zhu et al, 2010) samples. We are aware of only two studies that examined cross-cultural differences in false memory formation.…”