Describing Faces from Memory: Accuracy and Effects on Subsequent Recognition Performance

Abstract

The present research examines: (a) the accuracy of three face description methods, and (b) the effects of post-exposure description and imaging activities on subsequent face recognition performance. Participants viewed a sequence of six target photographs, and after each, performed one of three description tasks: generated their own set of descriptors, checked-off descriptors from a pre-existing list, or rated the same set of descriptors on bipolar scales. Other participants performed a distractor (control) activity. Additionally, participants were either told or not told to image the targets while they simultaneously performed the description tasks. Results showed that the checklist task lowered subsequent recognition performance compared to the generate task. Imaging with the generate task facilitated recognition, but imaging with the checklist and rating tasks degraded recognition. The generate task produced the highest quality descriptions as determined by other participants' performance in matching the descriptions to face photographs. The checklist decrement is discussed in terms of memorial confusion initiated by the presence of irrelevant face cues. These results indicate that descriptor generation is the preferred method of collecting eyewitness' face descriptions.