Eyewitness accuracy and confidence: Within- versus between-subjects correlations.

Previous researchers using between-subjects comparisons have found eyewitness confidence and accuracy to be only negligibly correlated. In this study, we examined the predictive power of confidence in within-subject terms. Ninety-six subjects answered, and made confidence ratings for, a series of questions about a crime they witnessed. The average between-subjects and within-subject accuracy–confidence correlations were comparably low: r?=?14 (pr?=?.17 (pr?=?-.09 within subjects), but more strongly with confidence (r?=?-.27 within subjects). This pattern was obtained for both between-subjects and within-subject comparisons. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)