The number of fillers may not matter as long as they all match the description: The effect of simultaneous lineup size on eyewitness identification

Alex R. Wooten; Curt A. Carlson; Robert F. Lockamyeir; Maria A. Carlson; Alyssa R. Jones; Jennifer L. Dias; Jacob A. Hemby

doi:10.1002/acp.3644

The number of fillers may not matter as long as they all match the description: The effect of simultaneous lineup size on eyewitness identification

Applied Cognitive Psychology ◽

10.1002/acp.3644 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 590-604 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alex R. Wooten ◽

Curt A. Carlson ◽

Robert F. Lockamyeir ◽

Maria A. Carlson ◽

Alyssa R. Jones ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Eyewitness Identification ◽

Simultaneous Lineup

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Metacognitive Control and Lineup Instructions: Asking eyewitnesses to recollect reduces false identification

10.31234/osf.io/7rvxz ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Nicola Guerin ◽

Nathan Weber ◽

Ruth Horry

Keyword(s):

Process Model ◽

Eyewitness Identification ◽

Dual Process ◽

Identification Accuracy ◽

Metacognitive Control ◽

Decision Confidence ◽

Delayed Choice ◽

Simultaneous Lineup ◽

Lineup Procedures ◽

Lineup Procedure

Little theoretically-informed research investigates how non-traditional lineup tasks or metacognitive instructions might improve eyewitness identification accuracy. We used a continuous dual-process model of recognition to explain familiarity-based identification errors and develop a modified lineup procedure that increased discriminability. In four studies using a multiple lineup paradigm we compared identification performance between lineup procedures featuring differing decision types (standard simultaneous, delayed-choice, elimination) and instructions (standard, metacognitive). Metacognitive instructions about how to better evaluate memory quality improved discriminability in delayed-choice but not standard or elimination lineups. With modified simultaneous lineup procedures, metacognitive instructions could potentially enable participants to use recollection more effectively and increase accuracy even when memory is poor. While immediate post-decision confidence is a good predictor of identification accuracy, lineup modifications that improve eyewitness memory use could provide more diagnostic evidence of probable guilt across a wider range of decisions. We discuss implications for lineup theory and design.

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