Wednesday 3/5/14SWBAT: Interpret the difference between

physical evidence and an eyewitness account and analyze the credibility of each.

Eyewitness: a person who see’s an event first hand, primary source.

IA: Make a list of the qualities you think are needed to be a good eyewitness.

DefinitionsObservation: what we perceive using our 5

senses (hear, touch, taste, smell, see)

Perception: interpreting information received from the senses

Video Experiment

Power of Observation

ProblemA man is on trial for robbing a convenience store, and several witnesses report seeing him at the scene. During the trial, the defense sets up an experiment to discredit the eye-witness testimony. See how you do on this experiment.

Experimental VideoWhile you are watching this movie, count

the number of times the team in white passes the ball to each other.

Count silently to yourself and make no comments during the movie.

Movie Debriefing

How many of you saw something strange during the

movie?

BackgroundVideo was made as part of an experiment

designed to test people’s “inattentional blindness”

In the original study at Harvard, only 42% of the people noticed the gorilla walking through the scene

This activity illustrates the unreliability of eye-witness testimony

Our Brain:Filters out informationFills in gaps in informationApplies previous knowledge to new

situations

What assumptions can you make about this scene? How might those assumptions be wrong?

Witnesses vs. Physical EvidenceMost witnesses do not intentionally lie on

the witness standHuman observation is limited by memory,

suggestion, and interpretationMemories can be confused or altered, but

physical evidence stays the same

Eyewitness Accounts

Provides direct evidence to crime scenesPerceptions can be faultyObservations affected by:

emotional statelevel of intereststressconcentrationamount/kind of distractionprejudicepersonal beliefsmotives

How To Be a Good Observer1. Make a conscious effort to examine

environment systematically.2. Observe everything. Pay attention to

details. Turn off filters.3. Gather information first before starting to

analyze or interpret it.4. Write down and photograph as much as

possible. Document! Document! Document!

I-Witness

ProblemYou were the principle crime scene

investigator on a case two years ago.It is now time for you to testify in court

about your findings.The defense attorney challenges the

accuracy of your testimony and implies that you observational skills are not so great.

If he can show the jury you are not good at spotting details, he might have a chance of getting his client off.

It is often the case in real life situations that the credibility of expert witness testimony is challenged.

The thoroughness with which they do their jobs is critical.

Can you prove your observational skills are

excellent?

Memory QuizIn your notebook, number your paper from

1-10.You will have 10 seconds to memorize the

following photograph.

You have 10 You have 10 seconds to seconds to memorize the memorize the picture picture

1. What color coffee mug was in the picture?

Blue Red Yellow White

2. When was the deadline?YesterdayTomorrowTodayOct. 19

3. What time was on the clock on the wall?

10:407:205:3811:05

4. How many sticky notes were on the whiteboard?

3678

5. Which of the following was NOT in the picture?

StaplerPrinterTrash canPen

6. What was the name on the plaque on the desk?

SteveBrianDavidJeff

7. What color was the victim’s shirt?

WhiteBlueRedGreen

8. How many plants were in the picture?

0123

9. Which of the following was on the floor?

Coffee mugPlantCardboard boxBackpack

10. Where was the book in the picture?

On the boxOn the deskOn the floorUnder the body

Answers

1. Yellow2. Today3. 11:054. 65. Stapler

6. Brian7. Blue8. 29. Backpack10. On the box

Summary: In your notebook, write a summary of what

you learned today about eyewitness accounts vs. physical evidence in court. (What was the point of today’s exercise?)

Share your summary with your partner.

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