Improving the accuracy of EWT: Cognitive interview

• Improving accuracy of EWT: Cognitive Interview

  Fisher and Geiselman (1992) argued EWT could be improved if police used better techniques when interviewing witnesses. 4 techniques:

  1. Report everything- even if it seems unimportant as it could be or trigger other important memories.
  2. Reinstate the context- return to scene 'in their mind' and imagine environment and emotions.
  3. Reverse the order- Recall events in diff chronological order. Prevents reporting expectations of how the event must have happened.
  4. Change perspective- Disrupts effects of expectations and schema on recall.
• Improving accuracy of EWT: Cognitive Interview 2

  The Enhanced Cognitive interview (ECI)

  Fisher et al. (1987) developed additional elements to focus on social dynamics of interaction. E.g., when to establish or relinquish eye contact, reducing anxiety, minimising distractions, getting witness to speak slowly and asking open-ended Qs.
• Improving accuracy of EWT: Cognitive Interview- evaluation

  Time consuming. Police are reluctant to use CI as takes longer than standard police interview. Also requires special training and forces may not be able to provide more than a few hours. Means it's unlikely that 'proper' version of CI is actually used, which could explain why police have not been impressed yet.
• Improving accuracy of EWT: Cognitive Interview- evaluation 2

  Some elements may be more valuable than others. Milne and Bull found that although, individually, each technique produced more info, a combination of report everything and context reinstatement produces better recall than any other conditions. This increases credibility of CI amongst police officers as it suggests these 2 elements should be used even if not all CI is used.
• Improving accuracy of EWT: Cognitive Interview- evaluation 3

  Research support for effectiveness of ECI. A meta-analysis by Köhnken et al. (1999) combined data from 50 studies and found that ECI consistently provided more correct info than standard police interview. Indicates there are real benefits to the police of using ECI (greater chance of catching and charging criminals which benefits society).