Improving Accuracy of EWT

• What is the purpose of the Cognitive Interview technique?

  To help police interview witnesses to obtain the most accurate and detailed memory possible.
• What is the basis of the Cognitive Interview technique?

  It is based on the idea that there are several retrieval paths to each memory.
• What are the key differences between the Cognitive Interview and the Standard Interview?

  • Cognitive Interview: Open-ended questions, not interrupted, more retrieval paths.
  • Standard Interview: Closed direct questions, often interrupted, less retrieval paths.
• What did Fisher et al (1987) find about standard interviews conducted by police officers?

  They found that questions were short, direct, and closed, and the order of questions often did not match the witness's memory of the event.
• What is an exam tip related to comparing interview techniques?

  A question could ask you to compare and contrast the cognitive and standard interview techniques.
• What are the four main components of the Cognitive Interview technique?

  Recal everything, recall in reverse order, recall from a changed perspective, and report everything.
• How does recalling in reverse order help in memory retrieval?

  It may help to access memories that are not easily recalled in a forward sequence.
• How can putting oneself in someone else's shoes aid memory recall?

  It may prompt a memory that could not be recalled previously.
• What did the research by Fisher et al. conclude about the effectiveness of the Cognitive Interview?

  It concluded that the Cognitive Interview is more effective than the standard interview for improving the accuracy of eyewitness testimony.
• What is a potential weakness of the Cognitive Interview as identified in the research by Fisher et al. (1995)?

  It can lead to false positives, where more information is remembered, but it may be incorrect.
• Why is the Cognitive Interview considered useful for interviewing children and those with learning difficulties?

  It can be adapted for different ages and abilities, allowing effective interviews after witnessing an event.
• What are the practical applications of the Cognitive Interview technique?

  • Improves accuracy of eyewitness testimony.
  • Can be adapted for children and individuals with learning difficulties.
  • Useful in real-life police investigations.