Speed Estimates by Eyewitnesses and Earwitnesses: How Vulnerable to Postevent Information?

Abstract

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to test the impact of postevent information on earwitness and eyewitness testimony. In the first experiment, subjects witnessed an automobile accident, visually, auditorily, or both, and were then exposed to postevent questioning using either marked or unmarked modifiers. There was greater accuracy in the visual than in the auditory condition; the auditory condition was most influenced by the marked modifiers. In the second experiment, subjects witnessed an automobile accident, visually, auditorily, or both, and were then questioned using either the verb hit or smashed. Again, there was greater accuracy in the visual condition, whereas the auditory condition was most vulnerable to postevent information.