improving accuracy of eyewitness testimony: cognitive interview

Question 1

what did Ronald Fisher and Edward Geiselman (1992) argue?

Answer 1

they argued that EWT could be improved if police used better interview techniques when interviewing witnesses.

Question 2

what are the 4 main techniques for a cognitive interview - ROPE

Answer 2

1. report everything
2. reinstate the context
3. reverse the order
4. change the perspective

Question 3

what does report everything mean in terms of Cognitive interview?

Answer 3

witness encourage to include every single detail of the event.
some memories may trigger others and so they will be able to recall more

Question 4

what does reinstate the context mean in terms of Cognitive interview?

Answer 4

witness to should return to original crime scene ‘ in their mind’ and imagine environment and their emotions.
- related to context dependent forgetting

Question 5

what does reverse the order mean in terms of Cognitive interview?

Answer 5

events should be recalled in different chronological order to original sequence
- done to prevent people reporting their expectations of how event must have happened
- prevents dishonesty

Question 6

what does change perspective mean in terms of Cognitive interview?

Answer 6

witnesses should recall incident from another persons perspective
- done to disrupt the effect of expectations and schema on recall.
- the schema you have for particular setting generate expectations of what would happen and it is the schema that is recalled rather than what actually happened.

Question 7

the enhanced cognitive interview (ECI)

Answer 7

• fisher et al (!978) developed additional elements of CI to focus on the social dynamics of the interaction.
• eye contact
  -recuse anxiety
• minimise questions
• open ended questions

Question 8

improving accuracy of EWT : cognitive interview EVALUATION - the CI is time consuming

Answer 8

• not likely to be used as takes longer than standard police interview

Question 9

improving accuracy of EWT : cognitive interview EVALUATION - some elements may be more vulnerable than others

Answer 9

• Milne and Bull (2002) found combination of report everything and reinstate the context produced best results
• even if not all elements are used, these should be
• suggests that at least 2 elements should be used to improve police interviews

Question 10

improving accuracy of EWT : cognitive interview EVALUATION - support for the effectiveness of the ECI

Answer 10

• studies show enhanced CI provides more correct info than standard info
• better chance of catching criminals

Question 11

improving accuracy of EWT : cognitive interview EVALUATION - variations of CI are used

Answer 11

• studies use different variations
• applies to real-life where methods are adapted

Question 12

improving accuracy of EWT : cognitive interview EVALUATION - CI creates an increase in inaccurate info

Answer 12

• could increase inaccurate info as well as accurate