Dear Tipsters, To play the Devil's Advocate slightly:
One person (a policeman or possibly prosecutor, I think) stated that eyewitness testimony evidence was still important and sometimes crucial to making a case against a suspect. And we saw some changes in procedures to make line-up ID more valid. My question is: Ca we identify the conditions under eyewitness testimony should be regarded as suspect and those under which it should be regarded as trustworthy (valid)? Sincerely, Stuart ___________________________________________________________________ Stuart J. McKelvie, Ph.D., Phone: (819)822-9600, Extension 2402 Department of Psychology, Fax: (819)822-9661 Bishop's University, 2600 College Street, Sherbrooke, Québec J1M 1Z7, Canada. E-mail: [email protected] Bishop's University Psychology Department Web Page: http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy ___________________________________________________________ -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: March 9, 2009 1:12 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] Eyewitness testimony The USA television programme "60 Minutes" had an interesting presentation of the weakness of eyewitness testimony tonight, illustrated with a dramatic and instructive (true) case in which a woman falsely identified someone as her rapist. Elizabeth Loftus makes a brief appearance; the heavy lifting is left up to Gary Wells. As is so often the case nowadays, it took DNA to set things right. The piece ends with a most unlikely friendship. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/06/60minutes/main4848039.shtml See the videos parts 1 and 2; and also a short featuring Loftus on Bugs Bunny's visit to Disneyland. Stephen ----------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: [email protected] 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Subscribe to discussion list (TIPS) for the teaching of psychology at http://flightline.highline.edu/sfrantz/tips/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
