The Impact of Delay and Context Reinstatement on Metacognitive Judgments of Eyewitnessing

Authors: Sarah Gillen, Brittany Race, Kaylie Schwartz

Field of Study: Social Sciences

Faculty Mentors: Brittany Race

Easel: 80

Timeslot: Midday

Abstract: The impact of Post-Identification Context Reinstatement (PICR) and delay on eyewitness confidence was examined in a 2x2x2 experimental design. Participants viewed a video portraying a theft and were later asked to identify the suspect from a photographic lineup with conditions differing based on target presence (present vs absent), delay (immediate vs delayed confidence ratings), and PICR (context reinstatement vs control). The hypothesis is that the PICR increases confidence for correct choosers without affecting the confidence levels of incorrect choosers. Delayed participants also exhibit higher confidence compared to no-delay participants, and correct choosers in the PICR delayed condition show no difference from correct choosers in the PICR no-delay condition. Lastly, incorrect choosers in the PICR condition are predicted to report lower confidence than those in the condition without PICR. These findings will potentially implicate future research in legal system procedures involving eyewitness testimonies and will expand previous research regarding confidence inflation.