Comparing the English Video Lineup with the 48-Person Lineup

Abstract

Levi has been experimenting with large lineups, in particular a 48-person lineup. After showing experimental participants a 2 minute video more than an hour before, participants were shown 4 screens of 12 lineup members. They could view the screens as often as they liked before reaching a decision. This study compared the 48-person lineup with the British lineup. Contrary to prediction, the British lineup did not outperform the 48-person one in identifications of the target. As there was also no difference in mistaken choices in target-absent lineups, as expected the 48-person lineup outperformed the British lineup, since the likelihood that the innocent suspect would be the person chosen is 1/10 in the ten-person British lineup, while only 1/48 in the 48-person lineup.