A03

• In support, Koehnken et al (1999) conducted a meta-analysis

  • of 53 studies and found on average there was an increase of 34% of correct information generated by the CI compared to standard interview.
  • However, most of the studies reviewed were laboratory studies and ppts used were students, therefore it lacks external and population validity
• In support Fisher et al (1990) demonstrated the effectiveness of CI in a police setting in Miami.

  • They trained officers to use CI techniques when interviewing genuine witnesses and found that it produced a significant increase in recall.
  • Therefore this gives evidence that the technique works in the ‘real world’ and not just in experimental settings.
• However, there are limitations to use of CI in practice.

  • Many police forces report that the technique requires more time than they have available and that instead officers use deliberate strategies to limit an eye-witness report to the minimum amount of information that the officers feel is necessary.
  • CI requires specialist training and many forces have not been able to provide more than few hours
  • Therefore, for these reasons the use of CI has not been widespread.
• a limitation that the effectiveness of the cognitive interview may vary depending on individual differences.

  -For example, children or older adults may struggle with some components, such as changing perspective or providing detailed context reinstatements.

  -These cognitive demands may affect the quality and accuracy of their recall, making the technique less effective for vulnerable witnesses.-This limits the generalisability of the cognitive interview across all eyewitnesses
• A strength of the cognitive interview is that it can be adapted to suit different situations and witnesses.

  -For instance, some elements (like context reinstatement) have been shown to be particularly effective on their own (Milne and Bull, 2002), and can be used selectively.-This allows police to apply the most effective aspects without needing to use the full interview, making it more practical while retaining benefits.-This flexibility increases the real-world applicability of the cognitive interview, especially in situations with limited time or resources.