Field Journal

Reflection of Loftus's Words on Retrieval

"Although current theories of memory are derived largely from experiments including lists of words or sentences, many memories in occurring everyday life involve complex, largely visual, and often fast moving events. Of course, we are rarely required to provide precise recall of such experiences – though as we age, we often volunteer them – but on occasion such recall is demanded, as when we have witnessed a crime or an accident. Our theories should be able to encompass such socially important forms of memory. It is clearly of concern to the law, to police and insurance investigators, and to others to know something about the completeness, accuracy, and malleability of such memories."

 

In order to assure that eye-witness accounts can be reliable, it's important to study the characteristics of memory. Current information regarding memory results from experiments involving lists of organized words. However, eye-witness statements rely on memory that occurs in everyday life, often complicated, brief, and highly visual. In ordinary life, people hardly ever need to recall such events with precision. In eye-witness statements, perfect recollection is necessary to solve a crime or arrest. Current scientific information on memory isn't applicable to everyday experiences required for an investigation. Therefore, it is of superior importance to study the "completeness, accuracy, and malleability of such memories" as experienced by a witness to a crime.

 

During the 1970s, Elizabeth Loftus completed the Loftus studies to gain insight to the changeability of memories. In one such experiment, participants were asked to estimate the speed of two cars on a recording before they crashed. Depending on the statement of the question, the participants varied their answers. The Loftus studies proved that memories are influenced by suggestion and can be molded to fit a situation. The studies do not openly support eye-witness statements as far as reliability is concerned. However, these experiments showed that more research must be devoted to the study and recollection of memories, so investigators can retrieve eye-witness accounts without affecting accuracy in any way.