cognitive interview

• cognitive interview

  method of interviewing eyewitnesses to help them retrieve more accurate memories

  uses 4 techniques

  -> report everything

  -> reinstate the context

  -> reverse the order

  -> change perspective
• report everything

  witnesses are encouraged to include every single detail of the event even if it seems irrelevant or they are not confident about it.

  these details may be important or trigger other important memories.
• reinstate the context

  witness should return to the original crime scene 'in their mind' and imagine the environment (weather, what they could see) and their emotions.

  this is related to context-dependent forgetting
• reverse the order

  events should be recalled in a different order to the original sequence.

  this is to prevent people reporting their expectations of how the event happened rather than how it really happened.

  prevents dishonesty.
• change perspective

  witnesses should recall the event from other people's perspectives.

  this is done to disrupt the effect of expectation and the effect of schema on recall.
• enhanced cognitive interview

  additional elements were developed to focus on social dynamics of the interaction. -> interviewer needs to know when to establish eye contact and when to relinquish it.

  includes ideas such as reducing anxiety, minimising distractions and getting the witness to speak slowly, asking open-ended questions.
• strength - research support

  Kohnken et al - meta analysis

  combined data from 55 studies comparing the cognitive interview to a standard interview

  only 4 studies showed no difference between the interviews.

  shows that CI is an effective technique in helping witnesses recall information.
• counterpoint - research support

  Kohnken et al

  also found an increase of inaccurate information in the cognitive interview

  particularly and issue in the enhanced cognitive interview.

  means police officers should treat the cognitive interview with caution
• limitation - time consuming

  police officers may be reluctant to use the CI as it takes more time and training.

  more time needed to calm witness and get them ready for it

  requires special raining and not all forces have the resources to do this.