INSTRUCTIONS
Today’s task requires you to assume the role of a judge. You will be reading aloud the police reports of two separate crimes committed here in the Austin area within the last few years. Your job is to read the reports as they ‘crawl’ across the screen. Each of the two reports will appear only once, so you will have only one opportunity to learn what happened -- the gravity of the offenses, the circumstances surrounding the crimes, etc. After you have read both reports, we will ask you to make some judgments about the perpetrators of the crimes, and to recall details of the crimes.
We have added a few features to make this task a little more demanding. First of all, there will be two kinds of information presented: FACT and FICTION. Facts are details about the crimes that have been verified to be true. These facts will appear on the screen in BLACK type. Fictions are details about the crimes that don’t belong to the reports they appear in. They were actually taken from other, unrelated police reports and mixed in with the facts. These fictions will appear on the screen in RED type.
The second thing that makes the task difficult is this: strings of numbers will appear underneath the words of the story. These numbers will appear in BLUE type. Your job is to search through these numbers and press the clicker once whenever you see the number 5. (We'll show you how to use the clicker in a moment.) You must continue reading the words on the top line as you search for 5’s on the bottom line. At the end of each report a double line of numbers will appear. When you see this double line, look for the 5’s in both lines simultaneously, clicking every time you see one in either line. This may sound tough right now, but after you get some practice at it, you’ll discover that it’s not so hard.
Let’s review. You will soon be reading aloud a pair of crime reports, trying to learn and remember as much as you can about the two criminals and their actions. Mixed in with the facts (printed in BLACK) concerning the crimes will be a number of fictions (printed in RED). You will also be looking for 5’s among strings of numbers (printed in BLUE) that will appear beneath the story line. At the end of each report, the 5’s will begin to appear on both lines and you will click for them when you see them on either line. After you’re done reading the reports and searching the numbers, you will be asked to judge the perpetrators of the crimes and recall details of the stories.
Once you’ve read and understood these instructions, let the experimenter know you’re ready to proceed to the practice phase. Feel free to ask any questions at this time.
STOP
(All phrases in italics are fictions.)
Tom's crime - exacerbating fictions
On the evening of January 16th, 1988, Tom left a neighbor's Austin apartment, where he had been drinking beer and scotch most of the evening. He began walking east down a busy main street toward I-35, shouting obscenities at pedestrians, while occasionally turning to face traffic and extending this thumb in the hope of hitching a ride. Before reaching the highway, he was picked up by Larry, a disabled veteran, who was heading north to join his family at a theater. Tom indicated that he wanted to get off downtown. Travelling along the highway, Larry recognized that Tom was nervous, preoccupied, and strangely silent. To remedy the tension, Larry began recounting a humorous incident that he had recently witnessed. Moments into the story, Tom pulled out a knife, held it tight against Larry's throat, and demanded Larry's wallet, wristwatch, and rings. Larry complied. With the valuables in his possession, Tom began muttering that he thought crippled people were really disgusting. Tom then ordered Larry to take an early exit and directed him through a residential area. He forced him to stop at a deserted corner. As Tom turned to get out of the car, Larry began pleading with him to return his wedding ring. Tom continued getting out of the car. Before running off, he leaned in through the window toward Larry and threatened to slit Larry's throat if he tried to follow.
Tom's crime - extenuating fictions
On the evening of January 16th, 1988, Tom left a neighbor's Austin apartment, where he had been playing card games most of the evening. He began walking east down a busy main street toward I-35, stopping to chat with some old friends, while occasionally turning to face traffic and extending this thumb in the hope of hitching a ride. Before reaching the highway, he was picked up by Larry, a well-known drug dealer, who was heading north to join his friends at a strip club. Tom indicated that he wanted to get off downtown. Travelling along the highway, Larry recognized that Tom was nervous, preoccupied, and strangely silent. To remedy the tension, Larry began recounting a humorous incident that he had recently witnessed. Moments into the story, Tom pulled out a knife, said he was ashamed of what he had to do, and demanded Larry's wallet, wristwatch, and rings. Larry complied. With the valuables in his possession, Tom began muttering that he thought drug dealers were really despicable. Tom then ordered Larry to take an early exit and directed him through a residential area. He forced him to stop at a deserted corner. As Tom turned to get out of the car, Larry began pleading with him to return his wedding ring. Tom continued getting out of the car. Before running off, he leaned in through the window toward Larry and tossed the wedding ring back into Larry's lap.
Kevin's crime - exacerbating fictions
On the evening of November 28th, 1989, Kevin left his south Austin home abruptly, after his wife warned she would call the police. During an argument that had erupted over his affairs with other women, Kevin had yelled at his wife several times and had threatened to stab her. Neighbors report that loud disputes between Kevin and his wife were common. Leaving his home, Kevin was confronted by his brother-in-law, who had just arrived after being summoned by Kevin's wife. When his brother-in-law tried to keep him from leaving, Kevin pushed him aside and rushed to his car. He then tore out the parking lot in his red Camaro and travelled to the nearby home of a friend, where he bought and used a considerable amount of cocaine. Hours later he headed home, stopping on the way at a convenience store to pick up cigarettes. At the counter, Kevin drew a 9-millimeter gun on the clerk, put it directly to her head, and demanded money. The clerk silently surrendered 210 dollars in small bills, while Kevin leaned closer and threatened to sexually assault her. On the way out, Kevin overturned a large magazine rack by violently kicking it out of his way. As Kevin pulled away from the front of the store, the clerk inside peered out through the window to get a look at the license plate, and thought she could see Kevin laughing in the car.
Kevin's crime - extenuating fictions
On the evening of November 28th, 1989, Kevin left his south Austin home abruptly, after his wife warned she would call the police. During an argument that had erupted over his wife's extravagant spending, Kevin had yelled at his wife several times and had threatened to divorce her. Neighbors report that loud disputes between Kevin and his wife were common. Leaving his home, Kevin was confronted by his brother-in-law, who had just arrived after being summoned by Kevin's wife. When his brother-in-law tried to keep him from leaving, Kevin pushed him aside and rushed to his car. He then tore out the parking lot in his red Camaro and travelled to the nearby home of a friend, to whom he tearfully confessed his long-time marital problems. Hours later he headed home, stopping on the way at a convenience store to pick up cigarettes. At the counter, Kevin drew a 9-millimeter gun on the clerk, told her to stay calm, and demanded money. The clerk silently surrendered 210 dollars in small bills, while Kevin explained that he needed the cash to cover his wife's debts. On the way out, Kevin overturned a large magazine rack by accidently running into it. As Kevin pulled away from the front of the store, the clerk inside peered out through the window to get a look at the license plate, and thought she could see Kevin crying in the car.
Tom's crime - "critical-true" version used in Study 2 (critical items shown here in bold)
On the evening of January 16th, 1988, Tom left a neighbor's Austin apartment, where he had been drinking beer and scotch most of the evening. He began walking east down a busy main street toward I-35, shouting obscenities at pedestrians, while occasionally turning to face traffic and extending this thumb in the hope of hitching a ride. Before reaching the highway, he was picked up by Larry, a disabled veteran, who was heading north to join his family at a theater. Tom indicated that he wanted to get off downtown. Travelling along the highway, Larry recognized that Tom was nervous, preoccupied, and strangely silent. To remedy the tension, Larry began recounting a humorous incident that he had recently witnessed. Moments into the story, Tom pulled out a knife, held it tight against Larry's throat, and demanded Larry's wallet, wristwatch, and rings. Larry complied. With the valuables in his possession, Tom began muttering that he thought crippled people were really disgusting. Tom then ordered Larry to take an early exit and directed him through a residential area. He forced him to stop at a deserted corner. As Tom turned to get out of the car, Larry began pleading with him to return his wedding ring. Tom continued getting out of the car. Before running off, he leaned in through the window toward Larry and threatened to slit Larry's throat if he tried to follow.
Now that you have read both crime reports, we would like you to think over the facts concerning each of the two crimes and decide upon the length of actual prison time each of the two criminals should serve. You may sentence each of the criminals to anywhere from 0 to 20 years in prison. Please take your time. Write your answers in the blanks.
______
Tom, the perpetrator in the first crime report, should be sentenced to ____ years of actual prison time. (Write a number between 0 and 20 in the blank.)
Kevin, the perpetrator in the second crime report, should be sentenced to ____ years of actual prison time. (Write a number between 0 and 20 in the blank.)
Please provide us with the following ratings. Respond by circling TWO of the x’s on EVERY scale -- one x for Tom and one x for Kevin. Make sure you indicate which response belongs to each perpetrator by writing a ‘T’ (for Tom) or a ‘K’ (for Kevin)
above each of the two marks you circle. For example, a completed scale might look like this:
T K
x---x---x---○---x---○---x---x---x
______
1) What are your general feelings towards each of the perpetrators?
neutral x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x extreme dislike
2) How much do you think each perpetrator will be helped through counselling?
not helped at all x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x helped a great deal
3) How dangerous is each of the perpetrators?
slightlydangerous x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x extremely dangerous
You have read a number of statements about the two crimes. Some of these statements were facts (appearing in black) and some were fictions (appearing in red). Please read each of the statements below and first decide whether you remember reading a similar statement in the crime reports. If you do remember reading a similar statement, then try to recall whether it was presented as a fact or as a fiction. Respond by writing one of the following numbers in the space provided before each statement. Here's the numbers and what they mean:
1 = I don’t remember reading a similar statement in the report.
2 = I do remember reading a similar statement in the report and it appeared as a fact.
3 = I do remember reading a similar statement in the report and it appeared as a fiction.
We will quiz you on each crime report separately -- first Tom’s story and then Kevin’s. Please read and respond to the statements in the order they are given. Do not go back and change your answers. You may begin now.
______
Crime Report 1 – Tom’s story
1. ___ Tom had been watching football on T.V. at a neighbor’s place.
2. ___ Tom had been drinking beer and scotch at a neighbor’s place.
3. ___ Tom had been playing card games at a neighbor’s place.
4. ___ Tom’s neighbor was named Dave.
5. ___ Tom had been watching baseball on T.V. at a neighbor’s place.
6. ___ Tom’s neighbor was named John.
7. ___ Tom stopped to chat with some old friends.
8. ___ Tom shouted obscenities at pedestrians.
9. ___ Larry was a disabled veteran.
10. ___ Larry was a well-known drug dealer.
11. ___ Larry was driving a Buick.
12. ___ Larry was driving an Oldsmobile.
13. ___ Larry was planning to join his family at a theatre.
14. ___ Larry was smoking a cigar.
15. ___ Larry was planning to join some friends at a strip club.
16. ___ Tom told Larry he wanted to get off downtown.
17. ___ Larry was smoking a cigarette.
18. ___ Tom told Larry he wanted to get off at a restaurant.
19. ___ Larry began telling Tom a humorous story.
20. ___ Larry began telling Tom a sad story.
21. ___ Tom held a knife against Larry’s throat.
22. ___ Tom said he was ashamed of what he had to do.
23. ___ Larry refused to hand over his wallet, wristwatch and rings.
24. ___ Larry handed over his wallet, wristwatch and rings to Tom.
25. ___ Tom said that he thought that drug dealers were despicable.
26. ___ Tom said that he thought crippled people were disgusting.
27. ___ Larry asked Tom to please give back the wedding ring.
28. ___ Tom gave Larry back his wedding ring.
29. ___ Larry asked Tom to please give back the wristwatch.
30. ___ Tom threatened to slit Larry’s throat if he followed.
Crime Report 2 – Kevin’s story
1. ___ Kevin argued with his wife over her extravagant spending.
2. ___ Kevin’s wife was named Julie.
3. ___ Kevin threatened to stab his wife.
4. ___ Kevin’s wife was named Mary.
5. ___ Kevin threatened to divorce his wife.
6. ___ Kevin argued with his wife over his affairs with other women.
7. ___ Neighbors report that the couple often threw loud parties.
8. ___ Neighbors report that the couple often had loud arguments.
9. ___ Leaving his home, Kevin pushed his brother-in-law.
10. ___ Leaving his home, Kevin pushed a neighbor.
11. ___ Kevin drove out in a red Camaro.
12. ___ Kevin drove out in a red Cobra.
13. ___ Kevin’s friend was also Kevin's wife’s friend.
14. ___ Kevin told his friend about his marital problems.
15. ___ Kevin’s friend had never met Kevin’s wife.
16. ___ Kevin used cocaine at his friend’s place.
17. ___ Kevin used a 9-millimeter gun in the robbery.
18. ___ Kevin used a shotgun in the robbery.
19. ___ The clerk was a high school student.
20. ___ The clerk was a university student.
21. ___ Kevin told the clerk to stay calm.
22. ___ Kevin put his gun to the clerk’s head.
23. ___ Kevin told the clerk he needed money for his wife’s debts.
24. ___ Kevin threatened to sexually assault the clerk.
25. ___ Kevin kicked a magazine rack on the way out.
26. ___ Kevin accidentally ran into a magazine rack on the way out.
27. ___ The clerk thought she saw Kevin crying as he drove away.
28. ___ The clerk thought she saw Kevin laughing as he drove away.
29. ___ Kevin drove straight home after the robbery.
30. ___ Kevin drove back to his friend’s place after the robbery.