TY - JOUR
T1 - Are old witnesses always poorer witnesses?
T2 - identification accuracy, context reinstatement, own-age bias
AU - Wilcock, R.
AU - Bull, Ray
AU - Vrij, Aldert
PY - 2007/6
Y1 - 2007/6
N2 - Young adults (16–30 years) and old adults (64–86 years) (N=96) viewed a staged videotaped crime event involving a young and old perpetrator. Prior to viewing either target present (TP) or target absent (TA) line-ups, half the participants received context reinstatement photographs. For the young line-up a significant effect of age group was found with old participants demonstrating poorer performance. However, on the old line-up there was no significant effect of age group. Importantly, a significant beneficial effect of context reinstating photographs existed for participants viewing the old TA line-up. An own-age bias did not exist for either age group in terms of accuracy but young participants were significantly more likely to choose a line-up member from the old line-ups compared to the young line-ups. It was concluded that given certain circumstances it may be possible for old adults to perform at an equivalent level to young adults.
AB - Young adults (16–30 years) and old adults (64–86 years) (N=96) viewed a staged videotaped crime event involving a young and old perpetrator. Prior to viewing either target present (TP) or target absent (TA) line-ups, half the participants received context reinstatement photographs. For the young line-up a significant effect of age group was found with old participants demonstrating poorer performance. However, on the old line-up there was no significant effect of age group. Importantly, a significant beneficial effect of context reinstating photographs existed for participants viewing the old TA line-up. An own-age bias did not exist for either age group in terms of accuracy but young participants were significantly more likely to choose a line-up member from the old line-ups compared to the young line-ups. It was concluded that given certain circumstances it may be possible for old adults to perform at an equivalent level to young adults.
U2 - 10.1080/10683160600822212
DO - 10.1080/10683160600822212
M3 - Article
SN - 1068-316X
VL - 13
SP - 305
EP - 316
JO - Psychology, Crime & Law
JF - Psychology, Crime & Law
IS - 3
ER -