memory - cognitive interview.

Question 1

What is meant by “cognitive interview”?

Answer 1

Method of interviewing based on techniques to improve memory recall.

Question 2

Who created cognitive interviews and when?

Answer 2

Fisher and Geiselman in 1992.

Question 3

What do Fisher and Geiselman state about cognitive interviews?

Answer 3

• reduces leading questions.
• police technique for interviewing witnesses to a crime.
• encourages witnesses to recreate the original context in order to increase accessibility of stored information.
• uses four strategies designed to maximise recall.

Question 4

What are the four stages of a cognitive interview?

Answer 4

• report everything.
• context reinstatement.
• recall in reverse order.
• recall from a changed perspective.

Question 5

What is the stage report everything in cognitive interviews?

Answer 5

• encouraged to include every single detail of an event even if they feel it is irrelevant.
• information that may be trivial or unimportant could trigger other important memories or help build a story.

Question 6

What is the stage context reinstatement in cognitive interviews?

Answer 6

• should return to original crime scene in their mind.
• need to imagine emotions and environment.
• related to context dependent forgetting.
• gives witnesses a cue.

Question 7

What is the stage recall in reverse order in cognitive interviews?

Answer 7

• events should be recalled in a different chronological order
  ↳ e.g. start from the end or remind police what happened form a certain point.
• prevents witnesses from reporting their expectations of a crime and prevent dishonesty.
• starting from the beginning allows witnesses to have expectations of what happened or what normally would happen in crimes.

Question 8

What is the stage recall from a changed perspective in cognitive interviews?

Answer 8

• events should be recalled from another person’s POV
  ↳ e.g. how would it have appeared to another witness or perpetrator.
• disrupts the expectations and schemas a witness may have.

Question 9

What are the elements Fisher added to cognitive interviews?

Answer 9

• no distractions.
• active listening.
• open ended questions.
• speak slowly.
• eye contact.

Question 10

Why did Fisher add some elements to cognitive interviews?

Answer 10

To focus on the social dynamics of the interaction.

Question 11

What is a strength of the cognitive interview?

Answer 11

• support for the effectiveness of the CI.

Question 12

What are the weaknesses of the cognitive interview?

Answer 12

• some elements are more valuable than others.
• time consuming.
• creates an increase in inaccurate information.

Question 13

What is the evaluation of the cognitive interview - support for the effectiveness of the CI?

Answer 13

POINT - one strength is there is research support.
EVIDENCE - a meta-analysis by Kohnken et al (1999) combined data from 50 studies. Results concluded that enhanced cognitive interview consistently provided more correct information.
EXPLANATION - suggests by using CI there is ability to obtain accurate information from eyewitnesses increasing chances of identifying and convicting the correct perpetrator. Helps ensure our society is protected and kept safe from criminals.
LINK - can conclude that CI are an effective way of obtaining accurate eyewitness testimonies.

Question 14

What is the evaluation of the cognitive interview - some elements are more valuable than others?

Answer 14

POINT - one weakness is not all elements are equally effective or useful.
EVIDENCE - Milne and Bull (2002) found despite each element being valuable, a combination of report everything and context reinstatement produced better recall than any other conditions.
EXPLANATION - suggests that the two features such as report everything and context reinstatement should be used at the very least.
LINK - questions whether the overall cognitive interview is even needed.

Question 15

What is the evaluation of the cognitive interview - time consuming?

Answer 15

POINT - one weakness is it is time consuming.
EVIDENCE - Kebbell and Wagstaff (1996) found more time is needed to establish rapport with witness allowing them to relax. Requires special training and many forces have not been able to provide more than few hours.
EXPLANATION - crimes or accidents are traumatising experiences so it is important for police to form level of trust and provide them with a safe place to disclose information. Training is vital in order for police to have skills to conduct an effective interview.
LINK - not a practice that can be easily implemented within the police force.

Question 16

What is the evaluation of the cognitive interview - creates an increase in inaccurate information?

Answer 16

POINT - one weakness is that despite its aims to increase the amount of correct information remembered it can also increase the recall of incorrect information.
EVIDENCE - Kohnken et al (1999) study found 81% increase of correct information but also a 61% increase of incorrect information.
EXPLANATION - suggest it may not produce most accurate eyewitness testimonies. Can be detrimental when prosecuting a suspect as there is potential to convict an innocent person.
LINK - may not be as effective and so police will need to remain cautious of what has been expressed by an eyewitness as no guarantee that the EWT would be accurate.

Question 17

What is the evaluation point of the cognitive interview - support for the effectiveness of the CI?

Answer 17

One strength is there is research support.

Question 18

What is the evaluation evidence of the cognitive interview - support for the effectiveness of the CI?

Answer 18

• a meta-analysis by Kohnken et al (1999) combined data from 50 studies.
• results concluded that enhanced cognitive interview consistently provided more correct information.

Question 19

What is the evaluation explanation of the cognitive interview - support for the effectiveness of the CI?

Answer 19

• suggests by using CI there is ability to obtain accurate information from eyewitnesses increasing chances of identifying and convicting the correct perpetrator.
• Helps ensure our society is protected and kept safe from criminals.

Question 20

What is the evaluation link of the cognitive interview - support for the effectiveness of the CI?

Answer 20

Can conclude that CI are an effective way of obtaining accurate eyewitness testimonies.

Question 21

What is the evaluation point of the cognitive interview - some elements are more valuable than others?

Answer 21

One weakness is not all elements are equally effective or useful.

Question 22

What is the evaluation evidence of the cognitive interview - some elements are more valuable than others?

Answer 22

Milne and Bull (2002) found despite each element being valuable, a combination of report everything and context reinstatement produced better recall than any other conditions.

Question 23

What is the evaluation explanation of the cognitive interview - some elements are more valuable than others?

Answer 23

Suggests that the two features such as report everything and context reinstatement should be used at the very least.

Question 24

What is the evaluation link of the cognitive interview - some elements are more valuable than others?

Answer 24

Questions whether the overall cognitive interview is even needed.

Question 25

What is the evaluation point of the cognitive interview - time consuming?

Answer 25

One weakness is it is time consuming.

Question 26

What is the evaluation evidence of the cognitive interview - time consuming?

Answer 26

• Kebbell and Wagstaff (1996) found more time is needed to establish rapport with witness allowing them to relax.
• requires special training and many forces have not been able to provide more than few hours.

Question 27

What is the evaluation explanation of the cognitive interview - time consuming?

Answer 27

• crimes or accidents are traumatising experiences so it is important for police to form level of trust and provide them with a safe place to disclose information.
• training is vital in order for police to have skills to conduct an effective interview.

Question 28

What is the evaluation link of the cognitive interview - time consuming?

Answer 28

Not a practice that can be easily implemented within the police force.

Question 29

What is the evaluation point of the cognitive interview - creates an increase in inaccurate information?

Answer 29

One weakness is that despite its aims to increase the amount of correct information remembered it can also increase the recall of incorrect information.

Question 30

What is the evaluation evidence of the cognitive interview - creates an increase in inaccurate information?

Answer 30

Kohnken et al (1999) study found 81% increase of correct information but also a 61% increase of incorrect information.

Question 31

What is the evaluation explanation of the cognitive interview - creates an increase in inaccurate information?

Answer 31

• suggest it may not produce most accurate eyewitness testimonies.
• can be detrimental when prosecuting a suspect as there is potential to convict an innocent person.

Question 32

What is the evaluation link of the cognitive interview - creates an increase in inaccurate information?

Answer 32

May not be as effective and so police will need to remain cautious of what has been expressed by an eyewitness as no guarantee that the EWT would be accurate.