in the cognitive interview, the witness is encouraged to:
report everything
reinstate the context
recall event in different orders
recall event from a different pov
report everything
because the recollection of one small memory may act as a retrieval cue for other important memories.
reinstate the context
Doing this may help trigger contextual or emotional cues which aid recall.
recall event in different orders
reduces the chance of expectations or existing “schemas” of how an event unfolds influencing recall.
recall from different perspectives
perspectives of what others may have seen again may reduce the influence of an individuals schema on recall.
interviewer may also try to ensure they reduce the anxiety of the witness, minimise distractions, allow them to take their time in their recall and avoid interruptions or leading questions while the interview occurs.
Fisher et al (1987)
developed the enhancedcognitiveinterview and focuses on the social dynamics of the interactions between the eyewitness and the interviewer e.g. knowing when to make eyecontact and when to diminish it as well as increasingrapport with the eyewitness
