EWT: Cognitive Interview

Question 1

What are the 4 techniques used in the cognitive interview?

Answer 1

• Report everything (Recall every little detail)
• Reinstate the context (Imagine the original crime scene)
• Reverse the order (Recall in different chronological order to the original)
• Change Perspective (Recall from someone else’s perspective)

Question 2

What is included in the Enhanced Cognitive Interview?

Answer 2

• Reducing the eyewitness’s anxiety
• Minimising distractions
• Getting the witness to speak slowly
• Asking open-ended questions

Question 3

Strengths of the Cognitive Interview

Answer 3

+ Elements of Cognitive Interview are useful​ in real-life interviews

+ Support for effectiveness of the Enhanced Cognitive Interviews in police interviews

Question 4

Weaknesses of the Cognitive Interview

Answer 4

• Time consuming​
• Research may be unreliable because of variations of the Cognitive Interview​
• Produces an increase in inaccurate information