Improving Accuracy Of EWT

Question 1

Define cognitive interview

Answer 1

Method of interviewing eyewitnesses/ reduce inaccuracies caused by leading questions and anxiety but also increase retrieval cues in LTM

Question 2

What’re the 4 techniques during a cognitive interview

Answer 2

Context reinstatement (mentally recreate the situation e.g weather conditions) (provides more possible cues because of how they felt at the time)

Report everything (report all details even if seem unimportant) (not realise some details are important and small may act as retrieval cues)

Recall in reverse order (recall the scene in different chronological order) (prevents people from reporting their expectations of how the event must have happened)

Recall from changed perspective (mentally recreate the situation from different perspectives e.g how another witness across the room will have saw it) (disrupt the effect of expectations and schema on recall)

Question 3

Differences between a cognitive interview and a standard interview

Answer 3

Standard

• free recall
• specific questions
• not as affective helping witness recall accurate info
• no specific specialist training needed

Cognitive

• recall in context event occurred
• wider questions asked
• more accurate in helping recall
• specialist training needed

Question 4

Evaluate the cognitive interview

Answer 4

-time consuming (KEBBELL&WAGSTAFF) not used in less serious crimes, don’t have time, often use techniques to limit info necessary)
-many elements (can’t establish cause and effect of accuracy e.g which techniques / rapport building)
+research (Geiselman 1985) officers using this got 12 more items correct than standard)
+economic implications