Interrogative suggestibility: The role of source monitoring, compliance, and memory in the context of minimally leading questions

• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2024.112583
• Publication Date: 2024-02-19T11:09:43Z
• Authors: Romuald Polczyk; Malwina Szpitalak; Marta Kuczek; Renata Maksymiuk; Iwona Dudek
• Keywords: source monitoring; mild suggestions; source identification errors; Wechsler Memory Scale IV; interrogative suggestibility; compliance; memory performance

Interrogative suggestibility (IS) is an individual trait concerning: (1) tendency to include in answers details congruent with suggestions contained in misleading questions (Yield), and (2) the tendency to change answers as a result of negative feedback (Shift). In this research, a standard and a mild version of the GSS 2 tool for measuring IS applied. Suggestibility was lower in the case of the mild version compared to the standard one. Proportion of suggestible answers was higher when source identification errors were committed, that is, the participants thought the suggested information was in the story. Suggestibility was lower when the participants knew that relevant information was not in the story but even then it was substantial. Memory performance (MP) as measured by the Wechsler Memory Scale IV was negatively related to IS. When analysed separately in versions of the GSS, MP was stronger in the mild one in the case of Yield. The importance of analysing mild suggestions is discussed as well as the importance of studying source identification errors and compliance in the context of IS.