Fisher&Geiselman: Cognitive Interview (Witnesses)

Question 1

Schemas?

Answer 1

= a mental concept that informs a person about what to expect from a variety of experiences and situations

Question 2

Aim?

Answer 2

To compare experienced detectives’ interview techniques pre and post cognitive interview training.

Question 3

PPs?

Answer 3

16 detectives with at least 5 years experience
•Robbery Division in Florida
•7 completed CI, 9 control group

Question 4

Method?

Answer 4

Field experiment

Question 5

Procedure?

Answer 5

• all detectives tape recorded 5-7 of standard interviews over 4 months
• 88 interviews recorded, mainly commercial robbery or purse snatching
• 7 had 4, 1 hour sessions of CI training
• 7+ 6 control (3 dropped out) had 2-7 interviews recorded (47 over 7 months)
• independent, blind judges from UNI of California transcribed interviews+scored them

Question 6

Results?

Answer 6

• 47% more info recorded post CI training
• 6/7 performed better after training; 1 not following suggestions
• 63% more info from CI than control
• accuracy of witness statements supported in 24 (94%) of cases

Question 7

Conclusions?

Answer 7

• CI training improves accuracy of responses from witnesses

* as only 4 hours of training, possible improvement with more

Question 8

Strengths?

Answer 8

• field experiment= high ecological validity
• control group= establish cause&effect
• independent blind judges= no bias
• ethical

Question 9

Weaknesses?

Answer 9

• small sample
• Hawthorne effect= may have performed better when observed
• ethnocentric

Question 10

Background: CI procedure?

Answer 10

1. Context Reinstatement= mentally recreate the incident
2. Focussed Retrieval= must recall everything, even trivial details
3. Extensive Retrieval= witness puts themselves in place of other victims to reduce effect of schemas
4. Change Order= recalling events in an unusual order