Memon and Higham

• What was the aim (Memon & Higham)?

  A review article critiquing the cognitive interview covering 4 themes:

  1. How effective each component is
  2. Comparison with other interview methods (guided, standard police and structured)
  3. How to measure memory performance
  4. How training quality influences interviewer performance
• What was found for the effectiveness of each component?

  Research suggests that context reinstatement is the most effective component

  The effectiveness of the CI is an interplay between context reinstatement and improved communication
• What was found when comparing it to other interview methods?

  The standard police interview- difficulty obtaining control groups as it is not standardised

  Guided memory interview- affected by interviewer variables and doesn't ask as many probing questions as the CI

  Structured interview- similar to the CI in terms of effective interviewer skills and questioning but does not employ the cognitive technique
• What was found when measuring memory performance?

  M&H found that there is too much focus on reported information and not enough focus on unreported information so it does not allow for an effective measure of memory
• What was found for training quality influencing interviewer performance?

  Early studies did not specify the amount and quality of training

  Individual differences are key in interviewers

  Some police officers show resistance to training BUT this could be due to who is training them

  Therefore, Memon and Higham suggest a 2 day training programme and to direct training to a certain group of officers