Efecto de la post-información autogenerada sobre el testimonio en eventos visionados

Resumo

Objective: An experimental study was designed with mock eyewitnesses in order to findout the information quality of recalled details (hits, commission errors and omissionerrors) without external contamination; the interaction between the central andperipherical hits and errors in the information recovered (Undeutsch, 1967); and thepersistence in testimony in repeated statements. Method: A total of 27 witnesses, whoviewed a video of a jewellery store robbery, made a statement (cognitive interviewtechnique) at two points in time within 7-10 days apart, about the events viewed. Thestatements were subjected to a systematic content analysis based on categories. Results:The results showed that the recall contained a higher rate of hits and omissions thancommission errors. In addition, the highest rate of errors was found to be omissions andreferred to central information of the event. In relation to the persistence of testimony, itwas found that the contents of the statements remained unchanged over time.Conclusions: The results confirm the first two hypotheses, while the third is rejected. Theimplications of these findings for the evaluation of testimonies and judicial decisions arediscussed.