Countering Suggestibility in the Social Studies Classroom Using Actual Footage

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 3
  In Roundtable Session: Democratic and Critical Social Studies

Abstract

Film is a tool in the social studies classroom, even if it contradicts documented history. Suggestibility from movie misinformation is commonplace and some social studies education methods exacerbate inaccurate memories. A convergent mixed methods study explored different research strands, using clips of actual footage in tandem with historical feature film clips to counter the historical errors. Qualitative themes suggest different student content understandings and historical understandings from the clips, and illustrated that students can act as historians. Quantitative results determined that footage can counter suggestibility from historical feature film and warnings were efficacious in limiting suggestibility when participants viewed the actual footage first. Although not apparent in the quantitative findings, convergent mixed methods findings illustrated that footage remained with participants.

Author

• Judith Raizy Nathan, Hofstra University