Aims: Investigate whether dramatic, or personally significant events can cause "flashbulb" memories
Procedure: Using a retrospective questionnaire assessed the memories of 80 US Ps for the circumstances in which they learned of public events.
Findings: FM more likely for unexpected and personally relevant shocking events
Conclusion: Dramatic events can cause a physiological imprinting of a memory of the event
Strength: Provides evidence to support anecdotal and personal experience of FMs
Weakness 1: Data collected through questionnaires, so it is impossible to verify the accuracy of memories reported.
Weakness 2: It could be that dramatic events are rehearsed more than usual, making memories more durable, rather than any "imprinting" process causing FMs