Lesson 12: Cognitive Interview

Question 1

Cognitive interview AO1

Answer 1

Fisher et al studied real police interviews over a four-month period and found that questions were brief, direct, fact based and closed. Witnesses were often interrupted and not allowed to expand upon their answers- referred to as the standard interview. Fisher et al argued that this might be contributing to the failure of eyewitnesses to accurately recall information.

Question 2

Cognitive interview process

Answer 2

Gieselman et al developed the cognitive interview to improve police interview techniques. Four main stages:

Context reinstatement- witness tries to mental recreate an image of the situation, including details such as weather conditions and their emotional state, including their feelings. These may act as retrieval cues.

Report everything- interviewer encourages witness to recall details about the event, even though these details may seem unimportant- may highlight details which have been overlooked and trigger other memories.

Recall from changed perspective- witness tries to mentally recreate the situation from different POVs. Promotes a more holistic view of the even which might enhance recall and reduce the influence of schemas. Schemas are mental structures of preconceived events.

Recall in reversed order- witness is asked to recall in a different chronological order which should verify the accuracy of the witness’ account.

Question 3

Enhanced cognitive interview

Answer 3

Fisher added more guidelines
- encourage witness to relax and speak slowly
- avoid distractions
- use open-ended questions
- offer comments to help clarify witness statements

Question 4

Positives of the cognitive interview

Answer 4

Gieselman et al showed pps a vid of a stimulated crime and tested recall using the cognitive interview, standard interview or hypnosis. The cognitive interview led to the most info being recalled by the eyewitness.

Fisher et al trained real police officers in Miami to use the enhanced cognitive interview. They found that on avg there was a 46% increase in the amount of information witnesses gave, 90% of it being verified as accurate.

Question 5

Negatives of the cognitive interview

Answer 5

• Koehnken et al found that witness recalled more incorrect information with the cognitive interview technique compared to the standard interview, perhaps because more detail increases the chance of making a mistake.
• Cognitive interview is time consuming to implement and police officers do not have the time, training and resources to use it.
• Memon et al reported that police officers believed that recall from changed perspective stage of the cognitive interview misleads witnesses into speculating about the event they witnessed rather than reporting what they actually saw. For this reason, police were reluctant to use it.