Abstract
In this meta-analysis we investigated the influence of the age of eyewitnesses on person identifications. While younger eyewitnesses generally showed better identification performance than the elderly, this effect was moderated by a variety of variables. The present meta-analysis identified the moderator variables that affected the differences in correct and false identification rates between the two age groups (k = 24; N = 3061), using fixed and mixed effects models. Moderator analyses revealed that the elderly benefitted more from longer exposure to the perpetrator's face than younger witnesses (OR = 1.04). Compared to simultaneous testing, the sequential lineup presentation reduced the differences between the age groups for hit rates (OR = .92) but not for false alarm rates (OR = 4.04). Longer retention intervals influenced correct identifications of the elderly much more than those of the younger witnesses (OR = 2.36). Results will also be discussed in terms of Sporer's (2001) in-group/out-group model, which predicts an own-age advantage.
| Original language | English |
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| Title of host publication | EAPL 2010 |
| Subtitle of host publication | Towards a positive legal psychology |
| Pages | 10 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 2010 |
| Event | Conference of the European Association of Psychology and Law (EAPL) - Gothenburg, Sweden, Sweden Duration: 15 Jun 2010 → 18 Jun 2010 |
Conference
| Conference | Conference of the European Association of Psychology and Law (EAPL) |
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| Country/Territory | Sweden |
| Period | 15/06/10 → 18/06/10 |