The relationship between memory and the recall of specific details

When eyewitnesses are exposed to an event, certain details tend to capture their attention more than other details, which ensures the better recall of the details that were observed. As little research has focussed on the relationship between certain biographical variables (occupation, age, gender, race and retention period) and specific event details, the present study attempts to shed some light on this area. A sample of 295 participants was obtained from 12- to 14-year-olds, university students, the public and Police College students that were divided into a short-term and long-term memory group. The details that were focussed on in the questionnaire were divided into obvious physiognomic, less pronounced physiognomic, clothing, circumstantial, and action-related details. Between the short-term and long-term memory groups it was found that significant differences were indicated for only certain items related to obvious physiognomic details, clothing details, circumstantial evidence and action-related details. For all the different biographical groups significant differences were found for certain items belonging to the different groups of details.