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The effect of viewing distance on empirical discriminability and the confidence-accuracy relationship for eyewitness identification

NCJ Number
302712
Journal
Applied Cognitive Psychology Dated: 2020
Author(s)
Date Published
2020
Annotation

Since the distance from which an eyewitness views a perpetrator is a critical factor for eyewitness identification, but has received little research attention, the current study presented three mock-crime videos to participants, varying distance to three perpetrators (3, 10, or 20 m).

Abstract

Across two experiments, increased distance reduced empirical discriminability in the form of a mirror effect, such that correct identifications decreased while false identifications increased. Moreover, high confidence identifications were associated with high accuracy at 3 m (Experiment 1 and 2) and 10 m (Experiment 2), but not at 20 m. The study concluded that eyewitnesses may be less likely to identify a perpetrator viewed at a distance, and also more likely to falsely identify an innocent suspect. Furthermore, there may be certain boundary conditions associated with distance and the impact it has on the confidence–accuracy relationship. More research is needed to elucidate the effect of estimator variable manipulations on the confidence–accuracy relationship. (publisher abstract modified)

Date Published: January 1, 2020