The Cognitive Interview Flashcards
(12 cards)
Who developed the cognitive interview?
Geiselman et al (1984).
What was the aim of the cognitive interview?
To increase the accuracy of witnesses’ recall of events during police questioning.
What is the first stage of the cognitive interview?
The interview attempts to make the witness relaxed by tailoring their language to suit the witness.
What is the second stage of the cognitive interview?
The witness mentally recreates the environmental and internal context of the crime scene.
What is the third stage of the cognitive interview?
The witness reports absolutely everything they can remember about the crime.
What is the fourth stage of the cognitive interview?
The witness is asked to recall the details of the crime in different orders.
What is the fifth stage of the cognitive interview?
The witness is asked to recall the details of the crime from different perspectives.
What must the interviewer avoid?
Judgemental and personal comments.
What research supports the cognitive interview?
Geiselman et al (1986).
What was the method in Geiselman et al (1986)?
- An intruder with a blue backpack stole a slide projector.
- They were asked “was the guy with the green backpack nervous?”.
- One group was interviewed using the standard police interview, the other using the cognitive interview.
What were the results of Geiselman et al (1986)?
Participants interviewed using the cognitive interview were less likely to refer to the backpack as green.
What was concluded in Geiselman et al (1986)?
The cognitive interview reduces the effect of leading questions.
