The Cognitive Interview

• During a cognitive interview we may PROD the witness. What does this stand for?

  • Perspective - Recall the event from the perspective of others.
  • Reinstate - Mentally reinstate the context.
  • Order - Recall the events in a different order.
  • Detail - Report every detail.
• How does making the witness recall events from the perspective of others make the cognitive interview effective?

  This technique might have disrupted the influence of a schema and expectations.
• How does making the witness mentally reinstate the context make the cognitive interview effective?

  This technique may trigger memory recall
• How does making the witness recall the events in a different order make the cognitive interview effective?

  This technique can disrupt the influence of a schema and expectations while also preventing lies as a rehearsed lie is hard to reiterate in a different order.
• How does making the witness recall every detail make the cognitive interview effective?

  This technique can trigger additional information.
• The Enhanced Cognitive Interview:

  Fisher et al. added social elements to the cognitive interview.

  Elements including:

  • Eye contact.
  • Minimising distractions.
  • Reduced eyewitness anxiety.
  • Getting the witness to speak slowly.
  • Ask open-ended questions.