Elimination lineups: An improved identification procedure for child eyewitnesses

Elimination lineup procedures were proposed that required the witness to eliminate all but 1 lineup member before being asked if the remaining lineup member was the criminal. Elimination Lineups were designed and tested with the aim of reducing false-positive choices by child eyewitnesses (n = 587 children, 10-14 years, M = 12 years; n = 185 adults). Elimination Lineups decreased false-positive responding in children without significantly reducing correct identifications. Fast elimination lineups with modified instructions emphasizing the negative consequences of identifying an innocent person and explaining how to make an absolute judgment significantly decreased children's false-positive rate to a level comparable with adults shown a simultaneous lineup. The potential benefits of elimination Lineup procedures for child witnesses are discussed.