Final answer:
The Loftus experiment investigated the misinformation effect and false memories. It showed that the choice of verb in a question can influence memory and estimation of speed. Loftus also challenged the idea of repressed and recovered memories, highlighting the malleability of memory.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Loftus experiment conducted by cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Loftus examined the misinformation effect and false memories. In the experiment, participants were shown films of car accidents and asked to estimate the speed of the cars based on different verb choices. The results showed that the verb used in the question influenced the participants' memory of the accident and their estimation of the speed.
Loftus also challenged the idea of repressed and recovered memories, particularly related to childhood sexual abuse. She argued that memories can be influenced and distorted by various factors, including therapeutic techniques like hypnosis and guided visualization.
Overall, Loftus' research highlights the malleability of memory and the potential for false memories to be created or implanted through suggestive questioning or exposure to misinformation.