Distinctiveness in an eyewitness identification paradigm: Comparing simultaneous and sequential lineups

The present study manipulated lineup composition and target distinctiveness to explore limitations on the robustness of the sequential lineup advantage, as well as examine the memory processes underlying simultaneous and sequential lineup decision-making. In support of previous research, the sequential lineup yielded a lower choosing rate than the simultaneous lineup, whether or not the target or replacement stood out in the lineup. However, a sequential lineup advantage occurred only when there was no standout effect and something distinctive to recollect about the target. Correct identifications of distinctive targets were associated with more Remember judgments compared to correct identifications of non-distinctive targets, indicating a connection between the process of recollection and distinctiveness. Furthermore, recollection also was used to correctly reject lineups that were missing the distinctive target, and this may be more likely in a sequential lineup. This is the first specification of factors responsible for producing a sequential lineup advantage.