A critical examination of the psychological and practical implications of eyewitness research.

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Abstract
The performance and testimony of eyewitnesses has become the focus of considerable research attention during the past decade. This paper provides a critical evaluation of the psychological significance of this research and a determination of its practical value. From a psychological perspective, eyewitness research is found to be lacking. The primary fault lies in the limited theoretical integration of the research findings. While the data that have been acquired provide a number of fascinating insights into how human beings perform in real-life situations, our understanding of the processes mediating this performance remains minimal. A second psychological shortcoming is the lack of integration of the memory performance of eyewitnesses with our understanding of the processes of perception and attention. Although there are difficulties associated with eyewitness research, nonetheless it has produced a body of descriptive knowledge that is of value to the criminal justice system. The research has demonstrated that eyewitness performance is substantially different qualitatively and quantitatively from what the average person would predict. The view of human memory that emerges from this research stands in contrast to the lay model of memory. Considering that eyewitness testimony can frequently play a central role in court proceedings, the relevant psychological knowledge should be made available to the criminal justice system. The best vehicle to accomplish this is difficult to determine. This article outlines some of the alternatives as well as the reactions that have occurred in the criminal justice system to this kind of information. Finally, some legal precedents for psychologists serving the role of expert in the area of eyewitness testimony are reviewed.

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