Cognitive interview

Question 1

describe CI

Answer 1

-based on psychological understanding of memory
-Fisher and Geiselman 1992 claimed that EWT could be improved if the police use techniques based on the psychological insights into how memory works
rapport is established with interviews

Question 2

Name the 4 steps of the CI and outline what it is

Answer 2

• report everything
• reinstate the context (based on context-dependent cues)
• reverse the order (prevents dishonesty and use of expectations)
• change perspective (prevents the influence of expectations and schema)

Question 3

Name the characteristics of the enhanced cognitive interview by fisher et al

Answer 3

• focus on the social dynamics of the interaction
• reducing the eyewitness’s anxiety
• minimising distractions
• getting the witness to speak slowly
• asking open-ended questions

Question 4

Name 2 strengths of CI

Answer 4

• support for effectiveness of the enhanced CI ( meta-analysis by Köhnken et al )
• some elements of the full CI are useful ( Milne and Bull 2002)

Question 5

Name 2 limitations of CI

Answer 5

• research may be unreliable because of the variations of the CI
• time consuming (kebbell and wagstaff pointed out that CI requires special training