Improving the accuracy of eyewitness testimony

• Eyewitness testimony

  Testimony provided by a witness to a crime or incident
• Standard interview


  • Witnesses bombarded with direct and closed questions
  • Investigators ask questions not in order that matches witness's mental representation
  • Witnesses not able to talk freely about their experience
  • Witnesses frequently interrupted by investigator
• Cognitive interview


  Interview technique designed to improve accuracy of eyewitness testimony
• Cognitive interview


  1. Context reinstatement

  2. Report everything

  3. Recall from another's perspective

  4. Recall in reverse order
• Enhanced cognitive interview


  • Allows witness to control flow of information
  • Uses open-ended questions
  • Does not interrupt witness
  • Establishes rapport between interviewer and interviewee
• Cognitive interview trained detectives gained 47% more information after training and 63% more than detectives using standard interview
• Cognitive interview had similar accuracy rate (85%) compared to standard interview (82%)
• Combined use of context reinstatement and recall everything increased quantity of information recalled
• Cognitive interview takes more time


  Police have limited time available
• Cognitive interview requires police training


  Takes time away from other cases
• Cognitive interview not effective for identity parades and identifying subjects from photographs
• Modified cognitive interview developed for effective use with 4-5 year old children