Final answer:
Loftus' research indicates that eyewitness testimony can be influenced by the suggestibility of memory, often leading to decreased accuracy. The language used when questioning witnesses can distort their memories, changing their recall about the speed of cars or even causing them to remember details that did not occur.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Loftus' research on eyewitness testimony, when a person witnesses a car accident, you would most likely expect to see: b. Decreased accuracy due to stress. Loftus' studies on memory have shown that eyewitness memory can be quite unreliable due to the misinformation effect. For instance, Loftus and Palmer's (1974) experiment demonstrated that the language used when questioning witnesses can alter their memories of the event. When participants were asked about the speed of cars in an accident using more intense verbs like "smashed" versus milder ones like "contacted," they not only recalled higher speeds but also false details such as non-existent broken glass. This phenomenon is rooted in the suggestibility of memory. Police officers and legal professionals have since adjusted their techniques to minimize leading questions and misinformation. For example, using blind photo lineups and neutral language during interviews, to ensure more accurate recall of events by witnesses.