Ethical Interviewing Flashcards
Ethical Interviewing
Ethical standards for interviewing related to crime A01
1) Every human has worth and is to be treated with dignity. This relates to self determination, part of the principles of the BPS ethics
2) Interviews must be carried out in no judgemental way, with openness, and treat interviewees in a fair way
3) Interviewers must not affect the interview or data gathered- must not involve coercion and material gained= not suppressed
4) Use different methods of gathering info- so that reliability and validity can be checked as far as possible
5) Truth must be the focus, not confession- don’t use false information or deception to get a confession (deception is unethical)
6) Those with special needs must be treated with additional care, taking into account said needs
Ethical Interviewing
Supporting research- its creation A01
Baldwin (1992):looked at 400 videos and 200 audio recordings of interviews carried out by police and concluded interviewing standards were low
Problems=
-No rapport developed with subject: looked for confession, to get suspect to accept interviewers version of events, tended not to listen to suspect, to interrupt, some aggressive and provocative, worst was the macho approach
=Lack of interest causing barriers of communication- not knowing how to behave, what will happen to them, what the police want etc
-Psychological factors:
Mental health status; anxiety, fear, depression, intelligence and general attitude to police
-Practical factors:
Not pacing the interview right, failing to explain the interview, no time for reflection
Ethical Interviewing
Technique A01
- Focus on rapport= leads to trust, which reduces anxiety and distress in a witness suspect meaning more info is likely to be disclosed
- Fisher and Geiselman (1992)= also means more reliable information. They state there is a drive to uncover as much correct info as possible.
- Technique emphasises using rapport to reduce stress and anxiety for moral and ethical reasons, such as for producing correct information. It also emphasises ethics when suggesting that rapport means showing empathy and active listening
- paying attention to the needs of the witness or suspect not only improves the interview with regard to information yielded but adheres to ethical guidelines, such allowing self determination
- In the PEACE model, closure is about getting any final information, if considering the efficiency of the interview, but also about making sure the witness or suspect is not left feeling distressed or anxious by the interview
Ethical Interviewing
PEACE A01
Savage and Milne (2007)- PEACE
=UK’s effort at ethical interviewing, issues that should be converted in an ethical interview. Te structure is meant to build trust so the offender feels their needs are being listened to and taken into account
P= Planning and preparation- identifying aims, objectives and required outcomes. Noting topics of interest-questions designed. Time, place, date and how the interview will be recorded
E= Engage and explain
A need to build rapport with suspect means exposing how interview will take place and answer questions to alleviate concerns. Told what to expect
A=Account
Invite suspect to provide account of behaviour- the way this will be asked for is decided upon in planning. Ethical interview includes ideas about different ways of doing this
Closure=
Bringing interview to a good conclusion and maintaining rapport. Aim= avoid anger or anxiety as it ends
Evaluate=
Should be evaluated against the required aims to look at material obtained
Ethical Interviewing
Approaches used in ethical interviewing A01
-Account part of PEACE=suspect or witness tells the story the interviewer wants to uncover, different strategies can be used within conversation management
-Conversation management= focuses on what is know from memory research
3 stages-
1) Suspect agenda.
Start with open questions about the offence and the suspect can say anything about them
Let suspect speak in their own words without interruption
Interview focuses on suspects agenda
2) Police agenda
To clarify the account through not able to challenge it. Issues suspect didn’t cover but are of police interest, can be explored- about getting fine detail
Roberts’s (2012) gives example of suspect saying they were driving a yellow car (suspect agenda) and the interviewer asking for more detail such as registration (police agenda)
3) Challenge phase
Interviewer explores any inconsistencies or inaccuracies that had come up in other stages
Reason for leaving challenge to the end is it avoids confusion because of questions or confabulation
Ethical Interviewing
Evaluation: Supporting Research A03
Strength-
Evidence from Kebbell et al(2010) suggests ethical interviewing is more effective than standard interviewing, finding a higher likelihood of gaining a confession from sex offenders using ethical interviewing and displays of humanity. Demonstrating ethical interviewing is food regarding obtaining reliable, detailed information
Ethical Interviewing
Evaluation: Opposing research
Weakness-
Use of PEACE allows a interrogative and persuasive interview method within its guidelines, however it was found this can still lead to false confessions. Roberts (2011) claimed although aggressive interview techniques were more results in unreliable information, he suggests the approach is more useful and important for the police to maintain a positive relationship with the community rather than to produce more accurate confessions
Ethical Interviewing
Evaluation: Effectiveness A03
Weakness-
An issue with the approach can be a difficulty to establish rapport. Mack et al found interviewing adolescence especially when regarding their health can be difficult, with establishing a rapport between the young person and interviewer difficult as the interview itself is stressful for them. Furthermore, Milne and Bull (2003) found that despite thorough training of police some individuals may still not become a good interviewer, suggesting difficulties in the application of the approach in real life
Ethical Interviewing
Evaluation: Supporting research
Strength-
Ethical Interviewing has advantages as it can allow detailed information to be gained from the interview whilst remaining within the bounds of ethics laws. Walsh and Milne (2010) found the effect of using the PEACE model in training allowed interviewers to effectively use open questions to gather more detail from suspects without resorting to unethical and aggressive techniques
