Do Image Variability and Names in Missing Person Appeals Improve Prospective Person Memory?

Abstract

Prospective person memory is implicated in searches for missing or wanted individuals. We investigated whether prospective person memory is improved by associating the target of the search with a name and providing photos that reflect variation in the search target’s appearance. Participants (N = 242) studied three photographs of each target, taken either at the same event (low variability) or at different events (high variability). For half of the participants, a name was presented alongside the photographs. Both names and high variability photos improved discriminability, suggesting that public appeals for a missing or wanted person should include a name and use images that are representative of the person’s variability in appearance across different contexts.