Improving accuracy of eyewitness testimony: Cognitive interview Flashcards
Who argued that eyewitness testimony could be improved with better techniques?
Ronald Fisher and Edward Geiselman
They proposed these techniques in 1992.
What is the collective name for the techniques proposed by Fisher and Geiselman?
Cognitive interview
This term indicates its foundation in cognitive psychology.
What is the first technique of the cognitive interview?
Report everything
Witnesses should include every detail of the event.
What does the technique ‘report everything’ encourage witnesses to do?
Include every single detail of the event
Even details that may seem unimportant or uncertain.
What is the second technique of the cognitive interview?
Reinstate the context
Witnesses should imagine the environment and their emotions during the event.
What does ‘reinstate the context’ relate to?
Context-dependent forgetting
Discussed in psychological literature.
What is the third technique of the cognitive interview?
Reverse the order
Events are recalled in a different sequence from the original.
What is the purpose of recalling events in reverse order?
To prevent reporting expectations and dishonesty
It makes it harder to produce an untruthful account.
What is the fourth technique of the cognitive interview?
Change perspective
Witnesses recall the incident from others’ viewpoints.
What does changing perspective help to reduce?
The effect of expectations and schema on recall
It prevents recalling what should have happened rather than what actually happened.
What is the enhanced cognitive interview (ECI)?
An extension of the cognitive interview with additional elements
Developed by Fisher et al. in 1987.
What are some elements included in the enhanced cognitive interview?
Social dynamics of interaction
Includes eye contact, open-ended questions, and managing distractions.
What does the enhanced cognitive interview suggest about questioning?
Use open-ended questions
This allows for more detailed responses from witnesses.
What should interviewers manage to reduce in the enhanced cognitive interview?
Eyewitness anxiety and distractions
This helps witnesses to recall information more effectively.
Fill in the blank: The cognitive interview techniques are based on _______.
Cognitive psychology
These techniques are designed to improve recall accuracy.
