Cognitive Interview

Question 1

What is a cognitive interview?

Answer 1

Method of interviewing eye witnesses to help them retrieve more accurate memories

Question 2

What are the differences between standard interviews and cognitive interviews?

Answer 2

1. Standard p’s are interrupted more often whilst CI allows p’s to speak freely
2. Closed vs open questions
3. Given guide for free recall. Recall memories without police influencing schemas

Question 3

4 Techniques in Cognitive Interviews

Answer 3

1. Reinstate the context
2. Recall from changed perspective
3. Recall in reverse order
4. Recall everything

Question 4

Why does cognitive interviews help our memory?

Answer 4

• based on Tulvingd encoding specificity theory
• suggests retrieval cues should be used
• several retrieval paths to each memory

Question 5

What is enhanced cognitive interviews?

Answer 5

Focuses on way investigator speaks to witnesses

Question 6

What are The Modified interviews?

Answer 6

Modified specifically for interviewing children

Question 7

Evaluation points

Answer 7

Strength- has research which supports its effectiveness
Limitation- time consuming, increase inaccurate info

Question 8

PEECL of strength of cognitive interview

Answer 8

E- eg Milne and Bull found ‘report everything’ and ‘context reinstatement’ components were key techniques in gaining accurate detailed recall
E- benefit of CI being effective is it can improve society as police get better idea of events and catch criminals
C- research from Kohnken found that CI must be immediately conducted after event as variable of time affects recall
L- research supports effectiveness of CI but suggests needs to be conducted immediately after event

Question 9

PEEL of limitation of cognitive interview

Answer 9

P- time consuming
E- has to be certain amount of training involved to conduct interview as well as police gathering info
E- general interview takes long period of time to conduct
L- disadvantages society as could be spent on other investigations