Summary
"When a serious crime has been committed, eyewitnesses may be required to assist a police investigation by constructing a facial composite of the perpetrator of the crime with the help of a police operator. A large body of research has investigated the utility of composite construction systems and the ways in which they are implemented with eyewitnesses. There has been less research conducted on individual differences which might have an impact on the accuracy of facial composites which eyewitnesses produce. The first aim of the research presented within this thesis was to investigate whether individual differences in stable cognitive style have an effect on the accuracy of the facial composites they produce. The second aim of the research was to investigate whether manipulating the temporary cognitive processing state of individuals during face encoding and prior to facial composite construction affects the accuracy of the facial composites they produce. These issues were investigated using two facial composite construction systems currently in widespread use by UK police forces, E-FIT and EFIT-V."--Abstract.