CROSS-CULTURAL AND CROSS-SEXUAL DIFFERENCES IN EYEWITNESS REPORTS

Abstract

This study investigates the cross-cultural and cross-sexual differences in eyewitness reports. It explores sex differences by looking at the role that language and culture play in the accuracy of reports. Of importance also, were such variables as Social Desirability and Acculturation. Within Acculturation were such variables as place of birth of respondent and family, age at which the respondent entered the United States, and years spent in the United States.;It was hypothesized that the interactive effect of Language-Culture (Treatment Condition) and Sex would significantly affect the accuracy of eyewitness reporters on several dependent measures (False Alarms, False Alarms with Language Manipulation, False Alarm Totals and Misses). It was also hypothesized that Language-Culture and Sex would significantly affect Social Desirability.;None of the predicted interactive relationships between Treatment Condition, Sex and the dependent measures were found. The significance found in the various independent measures is discussed. Perhaps the most significant finding was that 'Years in the United States' covaried significantly with both 'False Alarms with Language Manipulation' and 'False Alarm Totals'. Since the subjects born of foreign parents, in a foreign culture, had been in the United States far less than the other subjects, it appears that the length of time in the United States is a significant factor in the False Alarms or measures of inaccuracy.