Interrogation tactics: eyewitness accuracy as a function of setting and questioning

Is accuracy of eyewitness testimony decreased when witnesses are questioned in front of others, rather than privately? Does the presence of others impact the effect of misleading questions? First year university students (N=40) viewed a videotaped murder scene and then answered leading or non-leading questions privately or in front of 3 confederates who had viewed the same video and were potentially able to contradict the answers. As predicted, accuracy was significantly lower in the public answering group (F=(1,36)=13.790,p<.001). However, no significant differences were observed for question type (F=(1,36)=3.59,ns), and there was no interaction between question type and setting (F(1,36)=.144,ns).