PGR Andrew Green | University of Bedfordshire

Improving the validity and reliability of eyewitness memory research using stimuli displayed in virtual reality

Andrew Green

PhD (part time)

Start date:16 March 2020

Progress: Passed PP2 (plan to submit 2025, deadline 2026)

Summary:

Eyewitness testimony plays an important role in the criminal justice system, and while human memory is generally accurate, errors in recall can have serious consequences in a court case. The findings of experimental research into eyewitness memory that should inform the justice system, are sometimes dismissed, or doubted, due to the research methods used. Most experimental research in this area shows participants mock crime videos or stages live events. However, watching a video in a laboratory is unlike witnessing a crime in real life, and staged events, though seemingly real, are unreliable and can diminish researcher control.

Virtual reality has been suggested as a tool which can evoke real world responses and a feeling of presence within a virtual world. My PhD project consists of a series of studies which compare the experience of participants who view a crime as a staged live event, on video or in VR. Participants sense of presence, emotions, physiological responses and recall are compared to see if VR can offer a method for eyewitness memory research which is closer to the real-world experience than video, while retaining reliability and control.

Contact: andrew.green@beds.ac.uk

Green, A. (2023, July 24-25). Being there: How virtual reality can be applied in psychology teaching, research and practice [Conference presentation]. BPS Cyberpsychology 2023, Newcastle, UK.

Green, A. (2023, July 24-25). Eyewitness memory of crimes viewed in virtual reality [Poster Session]. BPS Cyberpsychology 2023, Newcastle, UK.

Green, A. (2022, September 22-23). Improving the validity and reliability of eyewitness memory research using stimuli displayed in virtual reality [Conference presentation]. BPS Cyberpsychology 2022, Brighton, UK.

Green, A. (2022, July 27-28). Improving the validity and reliability of eyewitness memory research using stimuli displayed in virtual reality [Conference presentation]. PsyPAG Virtual Annual Conference

Green, A. (2021, July 29-30). Improving the validity and reliability of eyewitness memory research using virtual reality [Poster Session]. PsyPAG Virtual Annual Conference, online.osf.io/35tzp

The university has given me the support I need to complete my research project, and to grow as a researcher. I have had the opportunity to work with experts in my field on peer review, journal articles and book chapters. My project requires specialist equipment, and when an item was not available, I was awarded funding by RCAP to purchase it for my project.

I have enjoyed working with my supervisors in a way that is much more collaborative than a taught degree, but my favorite part of the PhD is independence afforded to me to run my own project.