Asking the Wrong Questions

A study published in the January 2010 issue of the Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science examined  the impact of the emotional content of visual scenes on memory accuracy and susceptibility to misinformation over time. Using a sample of 80 undergraduate students  researchers presented a series of photographic scenes selected as being either highly pleasant or unpleasant in nature.  When the subjects returned at a later date (either one week or one month after the initial session), they were then asked questions about the picture that were either factual or misleading in nature,  After 1 week or 1 month, participants returned and were asked (unexpectedly) about the images. Overall, memories of misled participants were substantially less accurate than nonmisled participants, a pattern persisting at 1-week and 1-month follow-up, although the passage of time decreased accuracy of all participants. Relative to positive images, negative images were associated with a greater susceptibility to false memories for a major misleading detail at both sessions. Thus, relative to positive emotion, negative emotion specifically heightens suggestibility in the presence of major misinformation.  The researchers discuss the results in terms of potential generalizability and the impact of improper questioning procedures in dealing with witnesses to traumatic events.

See the abstract.