Memory - cognitive interviews

Question 1

cognitive interviews

Answer 1

uses psychological research of memory to inform police of most beneficial technique of interviewing

Question 2

4 main techniques of the cognitive interview

Answer 2

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

Question 3

what is meant by ‘report everything’ in terms of the cognitive interview?

Answer 3

reporting everything, even seemingly insignificant details might trigger other memories (codes/encoding, Tulving)

Question 4

what is meant by ‘reinstate the context’ in terms of the cognitive interview?

Answer 4

returning to crime scene either mentally or physically gives right cues to help access the information (context-dependent forgetting)

Question 5

what is the purpose of ‘reverse the order’ in the cognitive interview?

Answer 5

makes it difficult to change story accidentally or intentionally

Question 6

what is the purpose of ‘change the perspective’ in the cognitive interview?

Answer 6

makes it difficult to change story accidentally or intentionally

Question 7

enhanced cognitive interview (ECI)

Answer 7

focus on social dynamics of interaction.
eye contact, reduce anxiety of witness, minimise distractions, encourage to speak slowly, ask open ended questions

Question 8

evaluation of cognitive interviews

Answer 8

+ there is research to support the CI
- amount of innacurate info can increase using CI
- not all elements are equally useful
- very time consuming
- many variations of CI being used across different police stations