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Lineup Construction Methods: Should Lineup Constructors be Blinded to the Suspect? / Courtlyn Elkins

Swansea University Author: Courtlyn Elkins

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DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUthesis.72023

Abstract

Lineups should contain known-innocent individuals (fillers) who resemble the suspect. Two common filler selection methods are: the match-to-suspect method, fillers are selected based on perceived similarity to the suspect; and the match-to-description method, fillers are selected based on the perpet...

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Published: Swansea 2026
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Doctoral
Degree name: Ph.D
Supervisor: Burns, Edwin; Horry, Ruth; and Young, Hayley
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa72023
first_indexed 2026-06-08T09:56:55Z
last_indexed 2026-06-09T08:55:13Z
id cronfa72023
recordtype RisThesis
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In a systematic review, I examine how the match-to-description method has been implemented and which method leads to superior lineup outcomes. This thesis aimed to investigate: (1) how filler selection methods impact lineup outcomes; (2) how blinding match-to-description lineup constructors impacts the method&#x2019;s effectiveness. This thesis presents four empirical studies in which stimuli were created (Study 1), and the resulting lineups were tested for fairness (Study 2), suspect-filler similarity and description-fit (Study 3), and eyewitness discriminability (Study 4). Study 1, perpetrator descriptions were elicited from eyewitnesses using a free recall questionnaire or modified version of the Self-Administered Interview. Lineup constructors were provided with: (1) a suspect&#x2019;s image (match-to-suspect condition), (2) a perpetrator description (blinded match-to-description condition), or (3) a suspect&#x2019;s image and matching perpetrator description, with instructions to use the description (unblinded match-to-description condition). Study 2 tested the lineups for fairness using the mock witness paradigm. Blinded match-to-description lineups yielded fairer lineups than match-to-suspect lineups. Blinding had limited impact on the fairness of match-to-description lineups. Study 3 investigated suspect-filler similarity and lineup member description-fit. Match-to-suspect lineups yielded higher suspect-filler similarity and lower description-fit than blinded match-to-description lineups. Blinding had limited impact on either metric for match-to-description lineups. Study 4 tested the lineups in a standard eyewitness identification task. The blinded match-to-description method outperformed the match-to-suspect and unblinded match-to-description methods in discriminability and resultant fairness. Offering support for the match-to-description method over the match-to-suspect method and demonstrating the importance of blinding in lineup procedures. 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spelling 2026-06-08T11:17:12.8488773 v2 72023 2026-06-08 Lineup Construction Methods: Should Lineup Constructors be Blinded to the Suspect? d9c63330e46e69780848b13473e56156 Courtlyn Elkins Courtlyn Elkins true false 2026-06-08 PSYS Lineups should contain known-innocent individuals (fillers) who resemble the suspect. Two common filler selection methods are: the match-to-suspect method, fillers are selected based on perceived similarity to the suspect; and the match-to-description method, fillers are selected based on the perpetrator description (Wells et al., 2020). In a systematic review, I examine how the match-to-description method has been implemented and which method leads to superior lineup outcomes. This thesis aimed to investigate: (1) how filler selection methods impact lineup outcomes; (2) how blinding match-to-description lineup constructors impacts the method’s effectiveness. This thesis presents four empirical studies in which stimuli were created (Study 1), and the resulting lineups were tested for fairness (Study 2), suspect-filler similarity and description-fit (Study 3), and eyewitness discriminability (Study 4). Study 1, perpetrator descriptions were elicited from eyewitnesses using a free recall questionnaire or modified version of the Self-Administered Interview. Lineup constructors were provided with: (1) a suspect’s image (match-to-suspect condition), (2) a perpetrator description (blinded match-to-description condition), or (3) a suspect’s image and matching perpetrator description, with instructions to use the description (unblinded match-to-description condition). Study 2 tested the lineups for fairness using the mock witness paradigm. Blinded match-to-description lineups yielded fairer lineups than match-to-suspect lineups. Blinding had limited impact on the fairness of match-to-description lineups. Study 3 investigated suspect-filler similarity and lineup member description-fit. Match-to-suspect lineups yielded higher suspect-filler similarity and lower description-fit than blinded match-to-description lineups. Blinding had limited impact on either metric for match-to-description lineups. Study 4 tested the lineups in a standard eyewitness identification task. The blinded match-to-description method outperformed the match-to-suspect and unblinded match-to-description methods in discriminability and resultant fairness. Offering support for the match-to-description method over the match-to-suspect method and demonstrating the importance of blinding in lineup procedures. Thus, having real-world implications for improving police procedures regarding suspect lineup construction. E-Thesis Swansea match-to-description, match-to-suspect, filler, lineup, lineup construction, filler selection 2 6 2026 2026-06-02 10.23889/SUthesis.72023 COLLEGE NANME Psychology School COLLEGE CODE PSYS Swansea University Burns, Edwin; Horry, Ruth; and Young, Hayley Doctoral Ph.D ESRC Wales Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) Studentship ESRC Wales Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) Studentship 2026-06-08T11:17:12.8488773 2026-06-08T10:54:11.6337927 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Psychology Courtlyn Elkins 1 72023__36878__df8857688205451c9dbcc818f6a96c36.pdf Elkins_Courtlyn_PhD_Thesis_Final_Cronfa.pdf 2026-06-08T11:11:54.2687569 Output 7751196 application/pdf E-Thesis – open access true Copyright: The Author, Courtlyn Elkins, 2026. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License. Third party content is excluded for use under the license terms. true eng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en
title Lineup Construction Methods: Should Lineup Constructors be Blinded to the Suspect?
spellingShingle Lineup Construction Methods: Should Lineup Constructors be Blinded to the Suspect?
Courtlyn Elkins
title_short Lineup Construction Methods: Should Lineup Constructors be Blinded to the Suspect?
title_full Lineup Construction Methods: Should Lineup Constructors be Blinded to the Suspect?
title_fullStr Lineup Construction Methods: Should Lineup Constructors be Blinded to the Suspect?
title_full_unstemmed Lineup Construction Methods: Should Lineup Constructors be Blinded to the Suspect?
title_sort Lineup Construction Methods: Should Lineup Constructors be Blinded to the Suspect?
author_id_str_mv d9c63330e46e69780848b13473e56156
author_id_fullname_str_mv d9c63330e46e69780848b13473e56156_***_Courtlyn Elkins
author Courtlyn Elkins
author2 Courtlyn Elkins
format E-Thesis
publishDate 2026
institution Swansea University
doi_str_mv 10.23889/SUthesis.72023
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str School of Psychology{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Psychology
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Lineups should contain known-innocent individuals (fillers) who resemble the suspect. Two common filler selection methods are: the match-to-suspect method, fillers are selected based on perceived similarity to the suspect; and the match-to-description method, fillers are selected based on the perpetrator description (Wells et al., 2020). In a systematic review, I examine how the match-to-description method has been implemented and which method leads to superior lineup outcomes. This thesis aimed to investigate: (1) how filler selection methods impact lineup outcomes; (2) how blinding match-to-description lineup constructors impacts the method’s effectiveness. This thesis presents four empirical studies in which stimuli were created (Study 1), and the resulting lineups were tested for fairness (Study 2), suspect-filler similarity and description-fit (Study 3), and eyewitness discriminability (Study 4). Study 1, perpetrator descriptions were elicited from eyewitnesses using a free recall questionnaire or modified version of the Self-Administered Interview. Lineup constructors were provided with: (1) a suspect’s image (match-to-suspect condition), (2) a perpetrator description (blinded match-to-description condition), or (3) a suspect’s image and matching perpetrator description, with instructions to use the description (unblinded match-to-description condition). Study 2 tested the lineups for fairness using the mock witness paradigm. Blinded match-to-description lineups yielded fairer lineups than match-to-suspect lineups. Blinding had limited impact on the fairness of match-to-description lineups. Study 3 investigated suspect-filler similarity and lineup member description-fit. Match-to-suspect lineups yielded higher suspect-filler similarity and lower description-fit than blinded match-to-description lineups. Blinding had limited impact on either metric for match-to-description lineups. Study 4 tested the lineups in a standard eyewitness identification task. The blinded match-to-description method outperformed the match-to-suspect and unblinded match-to-description methods in discriminability and resultant fairness. Offering support for the match-to-description method over the match-to-suspect method and demonstrating the importance of blinding in lineup procedures. Thus, having real-world implications for improving police procedures regarding suspect lineup construction.
published_date 2026-06-02T09:55:13Z
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score 11.108223

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