Improving the accuracy of EWT

• Cognitive interview


  A method of questioning witnesses that involves recreating the context of an event
• 1. Report everything (Cognitive interview)

  - Witnesses are encouraged to include every detail of an event, even if it seems irrelevant or the witness is not confident about it.

  - Seemingly trivial details could be important and may trigger other memories
• 2. Reinstate the context (Cognitive interview)


  - Returns to the original crime scene in their mind and imagines the environment and their emotions.

  - The context cues may trigger recall.
• 3. Reverse the order (Cognitive interview)


  - Events are recalled in a different chronological order.

  - Prevents people using their expectations of how the event must have happened rather than the actual events also prevents dishonesty.
• 4. Change perspective (Cognitive interview)


  Recall the incident from other people's perspectives, prevents the influence of expectations and schema on recall.
• Enhanced cognitive interview


  Interview procedure that includes various principles of social dynamics in addition to the memory retrieval principles used in the original cognitive interview
• Strengths of the cognitive interview

  Support for the effectiveness of the CI

  - Kohnken et al (1999)

  - Meta-analysis

  - Combined data from 50 studies

  - Enhanced CI consistently provided more correct info than standard interview used by police
• Limitations of the cognitive interview

  Some elements may be more useful

  - Milne and Bull (2002)

  - Found that the 'report everything' and 'context reinstatement' aspects of the CI were key techniques in gaining accurate, detailed recall.

  - Supports CI as it shows some elements of it can be used to improve the accuracy of the information recalled.

  
  

  The CI is time-consuming

  - More time is needed to establish rapport with a witness and allow them to relax.