Memory: Cognitive Interview

Question 1

Who developed the cognitive interview?

Answer 1

Geiselman 1984

Question 2

What was the aim of the cognitive interview?

Answer 2

• Improve the effectiveness of interviewers when questioning witness.
• To show memory is not like a video camera but an active process.

Question 3

What is a cognitive interview?

Answer 3

A method of interviewing eyewitnesses to help them retrieve more accurate memories.

Question 4

What is the acronym of the 4 main techniques used in a cognitive interview.

Answer 4

ROPE

Question 5

What are the 4 main techniques in cognitive interview? (ROPE)

Answer 5

Reinstate context
recall in reverse Order
change Perspective
report Every detail

Question 6

Why is context reinstatement helpful?

Answer 6

Recalling how you felt may help recall further events.

Question 7

Why is recalling everything important?

Answer 7

Witnesses may not realise minor details are important. This may also help spark more information.

Question 8

Why is recalling from a changed perspective important?

Answer 8

Encourages many retrieval paths.

Question 9

Why is recall in reverse order important?

Answer 9

When recalled in forward order, witnesses reconstruct based off of their schemas. If the order is changed this may improve accuracy.

Question 10

AO3 Cognitive interview?

Answer 10

• Time consuming
• Specialist training required
• Some components not seen as useful, e.g. changed perspective
• Doesn’t completely eliminate possibility of inaccurate info.