Research into the impact of age on the accuracy of eyewitness testimony (EWT) is inconclusive. Some studies have found that elderly witnesses may be more suggestible than younger adults and more likely to incorporate inaccurate post-event information. However, other research has found that both children and older adults form less complete initial memories of events compared to young adults, rather than differences in suggestibility. The relationship between age and accuracy of EWT remains an open area of study.

1. Age and EWT: The elderly
L/O: to be able to describe what research has shown
about the elderly and testimony.
Starter
What are the two issues
you need to know for
the impact of being
elderly on the accuracy
of eye witness
testimony?

2. L/O: to be able to describe what research has shown
about the elderly and testimony.
Suggestibility or Memory processes?
Cohen and Faulkner (1989) Coxon and Valentine (1997)
• Young adults (average 35 years) and • Participants were shown a video
elderly participants (average 70 years). recording of a staged crime.
• Shown a silent film-clip of a
kidnapping. Found: both young children (7-9 years)
• 10 minutes later, the groups were and the elderly (60-85) were less
given a summary to read: accurate in their recall of events than
1. accurate OR young adults (16-18 years).
Argued: immature cognitions in children
2. one containing inaccurate
and aging the elderly.
information.
• Tested for memory later.
Also found: Elderly participants were
not any more susceptible to misleading
Found: elderly group were much more information than young adults.
likely to be influenced by the inaccurate Argued: the elderly are not more
summary read afterwards including some suggestibility but form and recall less
of it in their recall of the film. complete memories.

3. Plan an answer for 6 marks focusing on the
effects of older age on EWT.
Remember this asks for the answer to be lead
by a description of the research.
Two well described pieces of research with a
opening/closing comment about the
inconclusive research will get 6 marks.
Write it. 8-10 minutes.

4. This question requires evaluation of the research findings.
For top marks, you could also include the contrary research by Brainerd and Reyna and The
Fuzzy Trace Theory (article page 58-59) study guide – to be studied in your own time.

6. Self study
Due Monday
1. Plan your 12 mark answer (AO1 and AO2
balance).
Outline and evaluate research into the effects
of age of witness on accuracy of eyewitness
testimony.
2. Read study guide pages 46-47 to recap / fill in
notes.
Complete 2x apply your knowledge questions.

7. • Research into the impact of being elderly on the accuracy
of EWT is inconclusive.
• One school of thought argue that elderly witnesses are
more vulnerable to suggestibility than younger adults.
Cohen and Faulkner found that testimony from 70 year
olds, compared with 35 year olds, were more likely to be
influenced by an inaccurate written summary read after the
‘event’.
• However, Coxon and Valentine found evidence that
immature memory processes explain the difference
between testimonies of different ages; they found that, at
the time of the ‘event’, both young children and older
adults form, and hence recall, more simple memories.

8. • Research into the impact of being elderly on
the accuracy of EWT is inconclusive.
• One school of thought argue that
• However,