improving EWTs

• who proposed the cognitive interview?

  Fisher and Geiselman 1985
• how many steps are in the cognitive interview?

  4
• why was the cognitive interview developed?

  to improve the effectiveness of police interviews and apply Loftus' research findings.
• what is the first step of the cognitive interview?

  report everything.

  
  

  witnesses are encouraged to report every detail.
• why are witnessed encouraged to report everything?

  seemingly trivial details may be important.
• what is the second step of the cognitive interview?

  reinstate the context. witnesses should imagine the scene - environment and emotions.
• why are witnesses encouraged to reinstate the context?

  cues can help overcome context dependant forgetting.
• what is the third step of the cognitive interview?

  reverse the order. events should be recalled from end to beginning.
• why should witnesses reverse the order?

  it prevents witnesses from recalling their expectations rather than actual events and prevents dishonesty.
• what is the fourth step of the cognitive interview?

  change the perspective. witnesses should recall the incident from another POV.
• why should witnesses change the perspective?

  it reduces the effects of expectations and the effect of schema on recall.
• what is the enhanced cognitive interview?


  An advanced method of questioning witnesses that overcomes problems caused by inappropriate sequencing of questions. it focuses on social dynamics during EWTs.
• who proposed the advanced cognitive interview?

  fisher et al 1987
• give a few examples of ways the ECI differs from the CI

  • distractions are minimised.• witnesses are asked to speak slowly.• open ended questions are asked. • interviewers know when to establish eye contact.