In search of an empirical definition of a social model for the assessment of the quality of memory

Resumen

Background/Objectives: The cornerstone on which the burden of proof rests in criminal cases is the credibility attributed to the complainant’s testimony. Two models have been formulated for the assessment of the credibility of testimony: a social one, performed by the general population based on socially learned experience and knowledge, and a scientific one, supported by scientific evidence and performed by expert psychologists. A study was designed with the aim of developing an empirical model of how social judgements are formed based on an assessment of the quality of memory and to find out the quality of judgements based on this model. Method: A total of 560 (Mage = 36.84 years; 61.6% female) lay people in Psychology from the general population participated in the study and responded to an instrument measuring myths/false beliefs and scientific knowledge about memory. Results: The results showed that the general population (lay people in Psychology of testimony) use myths and false beliefs about memory, together with scientific knowledge, for the assessment of memory quality. In addition, they provided support (exploratory factor analysis) for a three-factor model of memory quality assessment: traumarelated memories, veracity of testimony, and memory span. A confirmatory factor analysis validated the factor structure. Conclusions: These results have direct implications for the assessment of the quality (credibility) of memories (testimony) in the judicial context. Thus, in the evaluation of the quality of the testimony, lay persons in Psychology of testimony, including judicial judgement makers and jurors, base the formation of judgments on erroneous criteria (myths and false beliefs about the quality of memory) and on a model of judgment formation that is not scientifically endorsed.

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Cómo citar (APA 7)

Selaya Berodia, A. (2024). In search of an empirical definition of a social model for the assessment of the quality of memory. https://hdl.handle.net/10347/38602