Eyewitness metamemory predicts identification performance in biased and unbiased line‐ups
Renan Benigno Saraiva, Inger van Boeijen, Lorraine Hope, Robert Horselenberg, Melanie Sauerland, P.J. van Koppen
Abstract
Purpose Distinguishing accurate from inaccurate identifications is a challenging issue in the criminal justice system, especially for biased police line‐ups. That is because biased line‐ups undermine the diagnostic value of accuracy post‐dictors such as confidence and decision time. Here, we aimed to test general and eyewitness‐specific self‐ratings of memory capacity as potential estimators of identification performance that are unaffected by line‐up bias. Methods Participants ( N = 744) completed a metamemory assessment consisting of the Multifactorial Metamemory Questionnaire and the Eyewitness Metamemory Scale and took part in a standard eyewitness paradigm. Following the presentation of a mock‐crime video, they viewed either biased or unbiased line‐ups. Results Self‐ratings of discontentment with eyewitness memory ability were indicative of identification accuracy for both biased and unbiased line‐ups. Participants who scored low on eyewitness metamemory factors also displayed a stronger confidence–accuracy calibration than those who scored high. Conclusions These results suggest a promising role for self‐ratings of memory capacity in the evaluation of eyewitness identifications, while also advancing theory on self‐assessments for different memory systems.