Working Memory Capacity Is Related to Eyewitness Identification Accuracy, but Selective Attention and Need for Cognition Are Not

Abstract

Individual differences in working memory capacity, selective attention, and need for cognition were investigated as postdictors—variables indicating the likelihood that an identification is accurate—using same-race and cross-race lineups. We also explored whether these variables improve predictions of identification accuracy when considering confidence and response time. White participants (N = 274) completed individual differences measures, watched four mock-crime videos (2 Asian targets, 2 White targets), made lineup decisions, and rated their confidence. Working memory capacity predicted identification accuracy and target-present accuracy but not target-absent accuracy. A regression model with confidence, response time, and working memory capacity explained more variance than a model with confidence and response time alone, indicating that working memory capacity tells us more about identification accuracy than extant reflector variables about identification accuracy.