Improving accuracy of EWT: The Cognitive Interview

Question 1

Who proposed the cognitive interview and why?

Answer 1

• Fisher and Geiselman
• To improve the accuracy and amount of information eyewitnesses to crimes could recall
• Traditional police interviews contained too many rigid questions (leading questions) and did not encourage the witness to provide additional information

Question 2

What is mental reinstatement of the original context and how is it helpful?

Answer 2

• Witness is asked to recreate how they felt in the moment of the crime
• Provides context and state cues which trigger memory (according to Tulving’s theory of retrieval failure)

Question 3

What is report everything and how is it helpful?

Answer 3

• Witness is asked to report all details of the event even if they feel it is insignificant
• Other memories may be triggered as all memories are interconnected with one another (episodic buffer in the WMM)
• Pieces together the full story

Question 4

What is change/reverse the order and how is it helpful?

Answer 4

• Witness is asked to recall the event in a different order (e.g. recall backwards from the last thing that happened to the beginning)
• Prevents pre-existing schema from influencing recall of events

Question 5

What is change the perspective and how is it helpful?

Answer 5

• Witness is asked to recall the event from another witness’ perspective
• Disrupts the effect of pre-existing schema on recall of events

Question 6

What is the enhanced cognitive interview?

Answer 6

• Developed by Fisher (et al)
• Focuses on social dynamic of the interaction
• Interviewer must know when to establish/relinquish eye contact
• Reducing eyewitness anxiety, getting them to speak slowly, open-ended questions, minimising distractions, etc …

Question 7

What is one strength of the cognitive interview? (hint: counter argument)

Answer 7

1.) Research support: Kohnken conducted meta-analysis on 50 studies and found 34% increase in accuracy (correct info gathered) compared to standard interview, HOWEVER most of these studies were conducted in artificial, laboratory settings so they may have low ecological validity, therefore although there is empirical evidence the research tells us little about the effectiveness of the cognitive interview in real life situations

Question 8

What are two limitations of the cognitive interview?

Answer 8

1.) Accuracy/quality is compromised when amount is increased: Kohnken found 81% increase in amount but 61% increase of incorrect info (false positives) compared to standard interview, meaning info gathered from CI needs to be treated with caution and perhaps CI leads to less accurate recall

2.) CI not implemented in the real world: Kebbell and Wagstaff interviewed police officers who said the CI requires more time than available and special training (but no time to train staff) therefore the CI is not widespread and perhaps alternative techniques should be implemented instead