Does Confidence Indicate Face‐Identity Matching Accuracy for Same‐Race and Other‐Race Faces?

ABSTRACT

Confidence reliably indicates face‐matching accuracy for same‐race faces. However, it is unclear whether this holds for other‐race faces. We examined the confidence–accuracy relationship for same‐ and other‐race faces in Caucasian and African American participants. To eliminate response bias in observers' confidence‐scale use, we measured confidence using a confidence forced‐choice task, rather than with confidence ratings. Participants completed two consecutive face‐matching trials and selected the trial on which they felt more confident. Results showed an other‐race effect for face‐matching accuracy, but not for the confidence–accuracy relationship. We also examined whether comparative‐trial difficulty predicted confidence decisions. For African American participants, difficulty predicted confidence for same‐ and other‐race decisions. For Caucasian participants, difficulty predicted confidence for same‐, but not other‐race, decisions. Confidence predicted accuracy for same‐ and other‐race faces, with difficulty consistently guiding confidence for same‐race faces. These findings enhance our understanding of how confidence decisions are formed and guide cross‐race identification decisions.