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WIU Psychology Student Seeks Volunteers for Research Study

April 20, 2021

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MACOMB, IL – Monika Mazela, of Winnebago, IL, a senior Honors student in the Western Illinois University Department of Psychology, is conducting a study titled "Eyewitness Memory Performance" to gain knowledge about factors that influence memory.

The goal of Mazela's study is to examine how different questioning formats affect eyewitness memory. She has worked in collaboration with Associate Professor of Psychology Katherine McGuire, whose focus is forensic psychology, since Spring 2020.

After COVID-19 restrictions were put in place, the collaborators used them as an opportunity to redesign the study to work with participants through video conferencing software. Participants view two videos and are then asked questions about them.

The videos portray various events that are comparable to those an eyewitness may be questioned about by investigators. The study takes about 20-30 minutes to complete and is conducted over "Google Meet."

Mazela is seeking volunteers to participate in her study. Those who apply must be at least 18 years old and have access to a camera and microphone for the study. While there is no compensation for participation, those who volunteer to take part will learn more about how science forms the basis for psychology and will play an active role in shaping the field of forensic psychology.

To volunteer for the study, and to choose a time slot, visit koalendar.com/e/eyewitness-memory-videoconference.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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