improving accuracy of eyewitness testimony: cognative interview

Question 1

what is the cognitive interview?

Answer 1

-method of interviewing eyewitness to help them retrieve more accurate memories

Question 2

evaluate how the CI is time consuming?

Answer 2

WEAKNESS

• takes more time than standard interview so police may be reluctant to use it
• requirers special training that some forces can’t provide
• therefore proper version of CI isn’t used

Question 3

explain the first 2 steps of the cognitive interview?

Answer 3

1. report everything- witness asked to include every detail even if its not valid. may trigger other important memories
2. reinstate context- witness return to crime scene in their mind and imagine environment+ emotions
   
   • related to context dependant forgetting

Question 5

what are the 3 evaluation points?

Answer 5

• CI is time consuming
• some elements of CI are more valuable
• support for effectiveness of the ECI

Question 6

what are the steps of the cognitive interview?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

evaluate the support for effectiveness of the ECI?

Answer 7

STRENGTH

• ECI may offer special benefits
• combination of 50 studies showed CI provided more correct info that standard interview
• shows actual benefits of using CI
• beneficial to society= catch bad guys

Question 8

explain the last 2 steps of the cognitive interview?

Answer 8

3. reverse order- events recalled in a different oder to chronological
   
   • prevent people form reporting how they believed events must have happened
     - prevents lying
4. change perspective- recall incident from other peoples perspective
   
   • to distrupt effects of schema on recall

Question 9

explain the enhanced cognitive interview (ECI)?

Answer 9

• fisher et al developed additional elements to CI
• interviewer needs to know when to hold eye contact
• also reducing distractions and asking open questions

Question 9

evaluate why some elements of CI are more valuable?

Answer 9

STRENGTH

• found that a combination of ‘report everything’ and ‘context reinstatement’ produced best recall
• suggests at least 2 elements should be used to improve standard interview even if full CI isn’t used
• increases credibility