Exploring the confidence prophylactic as a method for abating the post identification feedback effect in earwitness testimony.

摘要

The present study utilized a target-absent auditory lineup and examined whether asking participants to rate their level of certainty immediately after selecting from the auditory lineup (confidence prophylactic) moderated the confidence-inflating effects of confirming feedback demonstrated in previous eyewitness research. Results indicated that the confidence prophylactic was effective immediately, but not after a one-week retention interval. Additionally, the present study investigated whether the return of the confidence inflation after one-week was due to participants forgetting their initial certainty ratings faster than the feedback they had received. Results indicated that initially, participants correctly recalled both their initial certainty rating and whether they received feedback; however, after one-week delay, participants only correctly recalled whether they received feedback (differential forgetting). This study offered support for the differential forgetting idea and refuted the effectiveness of the confidence prophylactic after one week. Practical implications for further research are discussed.