lesson 9: cognitive interview improving EWT

Question 1

Cognitive Interview, Geiselman et al,1985

Answer 1

memory retrieval technique for accurate detailed information avoiding serious

consequences, schedule includes:
context reinstatement: trying to recall an image of setting with details like weather
report everything: report any information
recall in reverse order: start with most memorable event and go backwards
recall from changed perspective: describe from perspective of others present

Question 2

What was the refinement of the Cognitive Interview, Geiselman et al,1985

Answer 2

based on analysis of real police interviews added:
minimising distractions
asking witness to speak slowly
adapting language to suit
reducing anxiety
avoid judgment/ personal comments

Question 3

Investigating effectiveness of the cognitive interview schedule, Geiselman, 1985

Answer 3

test effectiveness compared to police interview
51 Pp found from advert in paper, shown police training videos of violent crimes
48 hours later interviewed by police officers with standard interview technique or cognitive interview
more correct items recalled with cognitive interview, 42 items vs 36

Question 4

Cognitive Interview, Geiselman et al,1985
EVALUATION, STRENGTHS

Answer 4

+Fisher et al 1989, supportive evidence
trained group of detectives in Florida in using cognitive interview schedule
assessed performance compared to genuine witness to crimes with pre-training levels
information gain= 47%
same effect using real crime witnesses

+Bekerian and Dennett 1993,
reviewed 27 case studies
found all cases using cognitive interview were more accurate
means is better than standard police interview

+practical applications
reducing failures of, one that results in a person being convicted wrongly in countries likely to occur eg brazil
Stein and Memon effectiveness of CI in Brazil, police use interrogation (torture)
increased correct information
can be used in developing countries reducing amount of wrong convictions

Question 5

Cognitive Interview, Geiselman et al,1985
EVALUATION, WEAKNESSES

Answer 5

• Geiselman says can’t be used to identify a subject
  needs more time and effort
  effectiveness= limited with scarce resources

-Geiselman, children under 6= slightly less accurate to cognitive interview, difficult to understand
not always more effective