Recall of White and Black Faces by White and Black Witnesses Using the Photofit System

Abstract

Twenty white and 20 black encoders each made Photofit constructions from memory of one of a sample of 10 white faces and one of a sample of 10 black faces. Then, to provide accuracy indices, two different groups of 20 white decoders matched the resulting Photofits to photographs of the original 20 faces. Both white and black encoders made more accurate white than black Photofits; white encoders made more accurate white Photofits than did black encoders; however, there were no racial differences in accuracy among encoders for black faces. Results were explained by cross-racial memory and by Photofit Kit differences.