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How many participants in the 'smashed' condition reported seeing broken glass?

  1. 6 out of 50

  2. 7 out of 50

  3. 16 out of 50

  4. 50 out of 50

The correct answer is: 16 out of 50

The correct response indicates that 16 out of 50 participants in the 'smashed' condition reported seeing broken glass. This outcome is rooted in the findings of Elizabeth Loftus's research on the misinformation effect, where participants viewed a video of a car accident and were later questioned using varied wording. The use of the term 'smashed' resulted in a significantly higher number of participants claiming to have seen broken glass, even though none was present in the clip. This illustrates how leading questions can distort a person's memory and perception of an event, highlighting the malleability of human memory and the impact of language on recall. The number 16 reflects the notable influence that suggestive language has on memory recall, reinforcing the concept central to the study's objectives.