Final answer:
Eyewitness testimony can be inaccurate due to the suggestibility of human memory, especially when witnesses are asked misleading questions that may lead to false memories. The correct option is B.
Step-by-step explanation:
Accuracy of Eyewitness Testimony
Regarding the accuracy of eyewitness testimony, the correct statement is that people may be asked misleading questions. When individuals witness a crime, their memory of the event can become a critical element in the investigation.
However, memory is not infallible and is influenced by many factors. The concept of suggestibility refers to the introduction of misinformation from external sources that may result in the creation of false memories.
In the landmark studies by Loftus and others, it was demonstrated that the way questions are phrased to eyewitnesses can significantly alter their memories, a phenomenon known as the misinformation effect.
For example, the verb used in asking about the speed of cars in an accident can influence the witnesses' perception of how fast the vehicles were going.
This is further complicated by additional issues like encoding failure, where information is not initially stored properly in memory, and interference, which occurs when other memories inhibit the retrieval of the desired information.
To enhance the reliability of testimony, it is crucial to ensure that witnesses are not subjected to leading questions or other forms of influence that could distort their memories.
Moreover, legal practitioners are increasingly informed about these pitfalls of memory and have adjusted their practices accordingly. The correct option is B.