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Note Taking and Note Reviewing Enhance Jurors' Recall of Trial Information

Applied Cognitive Psychology

Published online on

Abstract

Jurors forget critical trial information and this can influence their verdicts. This study assessed (1) whether or not note taking during a trial improves mock jurors' recall of trial information and (2) whether or not reviewing these notes prior to recalling the trial offers any additional enhancement. Mock jurors first watched a trial video. Three‐quarters were permitted to take notes whilst watching it. One‐third of these mock jurors then reviewed their notes, one‐third mentally reviewed the trial only, and one‐third completed a filler task to prevent any form of reviewing. The remainder took no notes during the trial and also completed a filler task afterwards. All then had their memory of the trial assessed via free recall. The principal findings were (1) note taking enhanced recall of the trial and (2) note reviewing offered an additional recall enhancement. The applied implications of these findings are discussed.Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.