False Memories
> The US legal system places a lot of importance on eyewitness memory. Most
> people would report that they can accurately convey what they saw in a
> particular situation. However, these ideas are not supported by research.
> Instead, research shows that memory is quite malleable and is affected by
> many factors. This research repeatedly demonstrates that people do not
> remember exactly what they experienced. This module’s experiment will show
> you firsthand how memory for events is not always one hundred percent
> accurate.
>
> Access the CogLab demonstration False Memory. Follow the instructions to
> complete the demonstration to familiarize yourself with false memory. Then
> locate at least one research study from a peer-reviewed journal that
> examined how eyewitness memory can be affected by false memories.
>
> Based on your research, respond to the following situation:
>
> You are considered to be an expert in false memories, and a local district
> attorney has therefore requested your expertise on the following case:
>
> On Tuesday, March 6, 2007, a bank was robbed in Slidell, LA. It was just
> after opening time, 9:04 a.m., and there were barely any customers, when a
> car arrived and parked in the side parking lot of the bank. Two men came
> out of the car and walked to the entrance. Both wore dark clothing. Upon
> entering the bank, they held out guns and asked for the manager. When the
> manager identified herself, the smaller of the two robbers ordered her to
> open the safe. Meanwhile, the other robber, a tall, and burley man, walked
> around holding his gun in his outstretched arm, and threatening the
> remaining employees and customers. The manager complied and the smaller
> robber collected all the money and valuables from the safe. After five
> minutes, the big robber asked if his companion was ready to go. When he
> was, the two ran back to their car, and drove away.
>
> The district attorney has asked that you create a presentation about false
> memory and explain how it might influence this case. He asks that you
> specifically address the following:
>
> – Describe false memory and false memory experiments. Use the CogLab
> experiment to illustrate false memory experiments, special distracters,
> and
> normal distracters.
> – Describe at least one research study from a peer-reviewed journal that
> investigated how eyewitness memory can be affected by false memories.
> – Explain how false memory might influence this particular case. Use
> specifics from the description of the case, the CogLab experiment, and
> research to support your answer.
> – Using evidence from the case, the CogLab experiment, and outside
> research, justify why eyewitness testimonies should or should not carry
> weight in criminal proceedings.
> – Discuss any procedures which can increase or reduce the occurrence of
> false memories when reporting eyewitness events.
>
> Remember, your presentation is designed to help the jury understand false
> memory and how it might influence the eyewitness testimony of this case.
> You will have ten minutes to present.
>
> *Since this is a legal case, you must include formally written slide notes
> (proper grammar, proper paragraphs, APA formatting, and academic tone) with
> research to support your claims. The presentation will be a legal document
> in this case, so make it worthy of being legally binding!*
>
> Develop an 5-6-slide presentation in PowerPoint format. Apply APA standards
> to citation of sources. Use the following file naming convention:
> LastnameFirstInitial_M3_A2.
>
>
> *Course Project Grading Criteria and Rubric*
> *Assignment 2 Grading Criteria*
> *Maximum Points*
> Describe false memory and false memory experiments. Use the CogLab
> experiment to illustrate false memory experiments, special distracters, and
> normal distracters.
> (Course Objective [CO] 1)
> 28
> Describe at least one research study from a peer-reviewed journal that
> investigated how eyewitness testimony can be affected by false memory.
> (CO 2)
> 28
> Explain how false memory might influence this particular case. Use
> specifics from the description of the case, the CogLab experiment, and
> research to support your answer.
> (CO 3)
> 32
> Using evidence from the case, the CogLab experiment, and outside research,
> justify why eyewitness testimonies should or should not carry weight in
> criminal proceedings.
> (CO 3)
> 36
> Discuss any procedures which can increase or reduce the occurrence of false
> memories when reporting eyewitness events.
> (CO 2, CO 3)
> 32
> Presentation Components:
> Organization (12)
> Style (12)
> Usage and Mechanics (16)
> APA Elements (4)
> 44
> *Total:*
> *200*