2.6: The cognitive interview (CI)

Question 1

Identify and outline the reinstating the context technique of the cognitive interview (2 marks)

Answer 1

The reinstating the context technique of the cognitive interview is that the interviewee mentally reinstates the environmental and personal context of the incident, for example sights, sounds or weather.
It is based on the principle of cue-dependent forgetting, that cues may trigger recall

Question 2

Identify and outline the report everything technique of the cognitive interview (2 marks)

Answer 2

The report everything technique of the cognitive interview is that the interviewer encourages the reporting of every single detail of the event, even though it may seem irrelevant.
Such detail may trigger other memories or may highlight something that has been ‘overlooked’

Question 3

Identify and outline the changing the order technique of the cognitive interview (2 marks)

Answer 3

The changing the order technique of the cognitive interview is that the witness is asked to describe the scene in a different chronological order.
For example, from the end to the beginning.
This reduces the possibility that recall may be influenced by schema or expectations and verifies accuracy

Question 4

Identify and outline the changing perspective technique of the cognitive interview (2 marks)

Answer 4

The changing perspective technique of the cognitive interview is that the interviewee recalls from different perspectives, for example how it would have appeared to other witnesses.
This reduces the influence of schema and promotes a more ‘holistic’ view of the event which may enhance recall

Question 5

A psychologist recorded the number of correct items recalled and the number of incorrect items recalled in each type of interview.
The following results were obtained:

The mean number of correct items recalled was 45 for the cognitive interview and 32 for the standard interview.

The mean number of incorrect items recalled was 8 for the cognitive interview and 8 for the standard interview.

From these results, what might the psychologist conclude about the effectiveness of cognitive interviews? (2 marks)

Answer 5

From these results, the psychologist might conclude that the cognitive interview was effective

Question 6

A psychologist recorded the number of correct items recalled and the number of incorrect items recalled in each type of interview.
The following results were obtained:

The mean number of correct items recalled was 45 for the cognitive interview and 32 for the standard interview.

The mean number of incorrect items recalled was 8 for the cognitive interview and 8 for the standard interview.

From these results, what might the psychologist conclude about the effectiveness of cognitive interviews? (2 marks).
From these results, the psychologist might conclude that the cognitive interview was effective, why?

Answer 6

From these results, the psychologist might conclude that the cognitive interview was effective, because more correct items were recalled, but it did not affect the number of incorrect items recalled