Abstract
ABSTRACT One goal of witness preparation is to strengthen witnesses' feelings of self-efficacy about testifying. The current study used mock criminal defendants to examine the impact of witness preparation training on witnesses' confidence in their ability to testify effectively and nervousness about testifying. Defendants testified twice about real-life accusations made against them. Approximately half of the defendants received witness preparation training between their first and second testimony simulations. The remaining defendants received no witness preparation training. Defendants made confidence and nervousness ratings for direct and cross examination both before and after each testimony simulation. Results revealed that participating in witness preparation led to a strengthening in confidence for both direct and cross examination, whereas participating in testimony simulations without training did not lead to a significant strengthening in confidence. Both prepared and unprepared defendants reported reductions in nervousness over time, suggesting that testimony simulations may be an important training technique for reducing witness nervousness.
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