Improving the Accuracy of Eyewitness Testimony

• What is the purpose of the cognitive interview in police interviews?

  To improve the accuracy of eyewitness testimony
• What are some factors that influence the accuracy of eyewitness testimony?

  Anxiety, misleading information, post-event contamination
• Who studied witness interview techniques in Florida?

  Fisher
• What did Fisher observe about the standard interview?

  Witnesses were bombarded with closed questions
• What is one limitation of the standard interview according to Fisher?

  Witnesses were frequently interrupted by investigators
• What are the four defining features of the cognitive interview?

  1. Context reinstatement
  2. Report everything
  3. Recall from a chain's perspective
  4. Recall in reverse order
• What does context reinstatement involve in the cognitive interview?

  Mentally returning to the crime scene
• Why is reporting everything important in the cognitive interview?

  It encourages witnesses to share all details
• What is the purpose of recalling from a chain's perspective?

  To disrupt the witness's schema and bias
• What does recalling in reverse order aim to achieve?

  To disrupt the witness's expected chronology
• What is the enhanced cognitive interview?

  • Additional suggestions for comfort
  • Establish rapport between interviewer and witness
  • Use open-ended questions
  • Allow witness to control information flow
• What did Fisher's field research reveal about the cognitive interview?

  Cognitive interview trained detectives gained more information
• What was the percentage increase in information gained by cognitive interview trained detectives?

  47% more information
• What did Kroken's meta-analysis find about the cognitive interview?

  It increased recall of accurate information
• What was the accuracy rate of the cognitive interview compared to the standard interview?

  Cognitive interview 85%, standard interview 82%
• What did Mine and Bull's study reveal about the cognitive interview instructions?

  No difference between each instruction's effectiveness
• Which combination of cognitive interview aspects increased information recall?

  Context reinstatement and report everything
• What are the limitations of the cognitive interview in real-world applications?

  • Time-consuming process
  • Requires trained officers
  • Limited financial resources for police forces
• Why might the cognitive interview not be effective in identity parades?

  It limits effectiveness in identifying subjects
• What is the modified cognitive interview developed by Holiday designed for?

  To be effective with younger children
• What age group was the modified cognitive interview shown to be effective for?

  Four to five year olds
• What should you consider when evaluating the cognitive interview's effectiveness?

  • Cost-benefit analysis
  • Time and resource constraints
  • Impact on crime reduction