Evidence for Continuous Mediation in Facial Recognition: Implications for Theories of Eyewitness Memory

Abstract

It has been proposed that sequential lineups are superior to simultaneous lineups because simultaneous lineups promote comparisons amongst choices (a relative judgment strategy) and sequential lineups reduce this propensity by inducing comparisons of lineup members directly to memory rather than to each other (an absolute judgment strategy). The relative-absolute judgment theory implicates both discrete-state and continuous mediation of facial recognition memory decisions. Kellen and Klauer (2014) utilized a ranking task as a critical test between continuous and discrete-state models and found evidence that recognition memory is mediated by continuous evidence. We utilized the same ranking task using faces (rather than words) as stimuli, and found evidence of continuous mediation when study and test stimuli match (Experiment 1) and when they mismatch (Experiment 2). This evidence raises issues for relative-absolute judgment theory as an explanation supporting the superiority of sequential lineups. It also forces reconsideration of the role that guessing might play in eyewitness identification. Future research should attempt to understand the situations and emergent strategies that might influence when recognition is continuously or discretely mediated.