These witnesses were less inclined than most of the other witnesses to be influenced in their testimony by the nature of the questioning. These witnesses were unclear about the details at first but then began to remember more accurately as they answered questions. These witnesses had better memories than did most of the other witnesses. These witnesses were more observant about details than were most of the other witnesses.
In an experiment, volunteers witnessed a simulated crime. After they witnessed the simulation the volunteers were first questioned by a lawyer whose goal was to get them to testify inaccurately about the event. They were then cross-examined by another lawyer whose goal was to cause them to correct the inaccuracies in their testimony. The witnesses who gave testimony containing fewer inaccurate details than most of the other witnesses during the first lawyer' s questioning also gave testimony containing a greater number of inaccurate details than most of the other witnesses during cross-examination.
Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent conflict in the results concerning the witnesses who gave testimony containing fewer inaccurate details during the first lawyer's questioning?