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Updated: Jul 5, 2026
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The Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) Task: A Simple Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate False Memories in the Laboratory
Published on: January 31, 2017
The co-witness misinformation effect: memory blends or memory compliance?
Elin M Skagerberg1, Daniel B Wright
1Psychology Department, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK. elins@sussex.ac.uk
Memory (Hove, England)
|April 25, 2008
Summary
Misleading information can distort memory. This study found that participants sometimes blend original memories with post-event details, rather than just complying with new information.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Memory Research
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Decades of research demonstrate that post-event information can distort participants' memories.
- Previous studies often did not distinguish between memory blending and compliance with misinformation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether participants integrate misinformation into their memories or merely comply with it.
- To determine if distorted memories represent a blend of original and post-event information.
Main Methods:
- 92 participants viewed videos with subtle differences.
- Participants discussed videos with partners who saw different versions.
- Memory recall was assessed through individual questioning after discussion.
Main Results:
- Some participants exhibited distorted memories that were a blend of original and post-event information.
- Findings suggest memory integration rather than simple compliance in certain cases.
Conclusions:
- Memory distortion can involve the blending of information from multiple sources.
- This research contributes to understanding the malleability of human memory.
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