Using metamemory measures and memory tests to estimate eyewitness free recall performance

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Forensic Psychology

Background:

• Eyewitness testimony is crucial in legal proceedings.
• Understanding the factors influencing eyewitness recall accuracy is vital.
• Metamemory, or memory about memory, may offer insights into recall performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the predictive value of metamemory measures for eyewitness free recall.
• To examine the relationship between objective memory tests and eyewitness recall.
• To assess the stability of accuracy and confidence across different memory tests.

Main Methods:

• A mock witness study with 208 participants.
• Metamemory assessment (self-rated capacity, strategy use).
• Mock-crime video observation followed by free recall and objective memory tests (free recall, cued recall, face recognition, general knowledge).

Main Results:

• Subjective memory capacity assessments did not correlate with eyewitness free recall performance.
• Confidence and over/underconfidence showed some stability across memory tests, but accuracy was less stable.
• Higher self-rated memory capacity was linked to a stronger confidence-accuracy relationship in free recall.

Conclusions:

• Metamemory assessments, particularly self-rated capacity, have limited predictive power for eyewitness recall accuracy.
• Performance stability varies across different memory domains and measures.
• Confidence in eyewitness recall is not a reliable indicator of accuracy.