The Effects of Memory Conformity and the Cross Race Effect in Eyewitness Testimony
This study investigates the malleability of the eyewitness memory by analyzing the effects of Memory Conformity and Cross Race Effect (CRE) among Asian ethnic groups. A live crime enactment (snatch theft) was initiated in order to assess both variables. Two experiments were conducted using a questionnaire with a total of 36 participants in a private university. Experiment 1 examined the effects of group conformity. After the live enactment and the filler task, participants were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: discussed and no discussed groups. All participants were given a questionnaire and was informed to complete it individually. Experiment 2 examined the cross race effect. Participants were informed to answer the questionnaire individually and the results were analyzed based on the racial identity. No difference in memory accuracy was found between discussed and no discussed conditions in the experiment 1. However, in experiment 2, a disparate racial identity effect was found opposing the past literature.