Elizabeth Loftus Study On Reconstructive Memory
The aim of this experiment was for Christian Najjar, Talley Moorman, John Gressette, and Thomas McCutchen to replicate Elizabeth Loftus’ study on reconstructive memory (Experiment number 3) (Hock 120). In the original study conducted by Loftus, participants were shown a video of a white sports car driving down a road. After the video, the participants were divided into two groups and then asked a series of follow up questions. One group was given a questionnaire that contained a presupposing question such as, “How fast was the white sports car driving when it passed the red barn?” The other group was given a questionnaire with control questions such as, “How fast was the car going while traveling along the country road (Hock 120). A week later,
all participants were given the same questionnaire that had the question, “Did you see a red barn?” (Hock 120). In Loftus’ study, the groups that were given the presupposed question saw the barn more often than those who were asked questions that contained no presuppositions.
all participants were given the same questionnaire that had the question, “Did you see a red barn?” (Hock 120). In Loftus’ study, the groups that were given the presupposed question saw the barn more often than those who were asked questions that contained no presuppositions.