Objectives

We conducted a meta-analysis to assess whether the construction of facial composites affects witnesses’ lineup identification decisions.

Methods

We located 23 studies (56 effects, 2276 participants). We consider effects of constructing composites on (a) correct identifications, and (b) incorrect identifications, from target-present lineups, and (c) incorrect identifications from target-absent lineups. Log odds ratio effect sizes were entered into a random-effects meta-analysis. We also present novel signal detection theory analyses in an online supplement.

Results

There were no significant negative effects of composite construction, but some weak evidence that composite construction reduced incorrect identifications in target-present lineups. Because effect sizes showed little hetereogeneity for any of the outcomes (after outlier removal), there were no moderator analyses. Results for SDT measures also showed no effects.

Conclusions

Empirical evidence suggests no effects of composite construction on identifications. We identify gaps in knowledge and make recommendations for more ecologically valid research.

中文翻译：

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构建面部合成物会影响目击者的记忆吗？研究综合和荟萃分析

目标

我们进行了一项荟萃分析，以评估面部复合材料的构造是否会影响证人的阵容识别决定。

方法

我们找到了 23 项研究（56 项效应，2276 名参与者）。我们考虑构建复合材料对（a）正确识别和（b）来自目标存在阵容的错误识别和（c）来自目标缺失阵容的错误识别的影响。对数优势比效应大小被输入到随机效应荟萃分析中。我们还在在线增刊中介绍了新的信号检测理论分析。

结果

复合结构没有显着的负面影响，但有一些微弱的证据表明复合结构减少了目标当前阵容中的错误识别。由于效应大小显示出任何结果（去除异常值后）几乎没有异质性，因此没有调节分析。SDT 测量的结果也显示没有影响。

结论

经验证据表明复合结构对识别没有影响。我们找出知识差距，并为更生态有效的研究提出建议。