Computerized Mug Books: Does Adding Multimedia Help?

• Published in: Journal of applied psychology 1997-10, Vol.82 (5), p.688-698
• Main Authors: McAllister, Hunter A, Bearden, Joseph N, Kohlmaier, Joy R, Warner, Michele D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Computer Applications; Computerization; Computers; Crime; Criminal justice; Criminals; Criminology; Evaluation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human; Human Computer Interaction; Identification; Information technology; Miscellaneous; Multimedia; Multimedia computer applications; Multimedia programs; Offenders; Person identification; Policing; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Studies; USA; Witnesses
• ISSN: 0021-9010; 1939-1854
• DOI: 10.1037/0021-9010.82.5.688

The usefulness of a computerized, multimedia mug book was explored. Participants ( N = 286) randomly viewed 1 of 2 perpetrators of a videotaped crime and then attempted to identify the perpetrator from computerized mug book files. Participants were assigned to 1 of 3 conditions: (a) dynamic no-choice, where every static mug shot was followed by a computerized video clip of the person walking, talking, and rotating through 360°; (b) dynamic choice, where static mug shots were followed by dynamic information only when chosen by the participant; and (c) static, where just the static mug shot was presented. There were significantly fewer false positive identifications of the foils in the dynamic choice condition than in the static condition. The foil most similar to the perpetrator was also less likely to be falsely identified in the dynamic choice condition. Dynamic information was found to improve mug book performance when witnesses chose for it to be presented.