Four heads are better than one: combining face composites yields improvements in face likeness.

Bruce, Vicki; Ness, Hayley; Hancock, Peter J. B.; Newman, Craig; Rarity, Jenny

Abstract

Four participants constructed face composites, of familiar and unfamiliar targets, using Pro-Fit, with reference images present or from memory. The "mean" of all 4 composites, created by morphing (4-morph) was rated as a better likeness than individual composites on average and was as good as the best individual likeness. When participants attempted to identify targets from line-ups, 4-morphs again performed as well as the best individual composite. In a second experiment, participants familiar with target women attempted to identify composites, and the trend showed better recognition from multiple composites, whether combined or shown together. In a line-up task with unfamiliar participants, 4-morphs produced most correct choices and fewest false positives from target-absent or target-present arrays. These results have practical implications for the way evidence from different witnesses is used in police investigations.

Citation

Bruce, V., Ness, H., Hancock, P. J. B., Newman, C., & Rarity, J. (2002). Four heads are better than one: combining face composites yields improvements in face likeness. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87(5), 894-902. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.87.5.894

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Oct 1, 2002
• Deposit Date: Apr 3, 2008
• Print ISSN: 0021-9010
• Electronic ISSN: 1939-1854
• Publisher: American Psychological Association
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 87
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 894-902
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.87.5.894
• Keywords: PRO-fit; face composites; 4-morph; line-ups; facial recognition
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/2255
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.87.5.894