Memory- improving accuracy of EWT, cognitive interview

Question 1

Who developed the cognitive interview

Answer 1

Fisher and Geiselman

Question 2

What are the 4 parts of the CI

Answer 2

1) Context reinstatement
2) Report everything
3) Recall in reverse order
4) Recall from different perspective

Question 3

What is context reinstatement

Answer 3

The interviewer tries to mentally reinstate the environmental and personal context of the crime for the witnesses, perhaps by asking them about their general activities and feelings on the day. This could include sights, sounds, feelings and emotions, the weather etc.

Question 4

Why is context reinstatement important

Answer 4

People remember more when they have cues that tage that memory (cue dependent memory).

Question 5

What is reporting everything

Answer 5

In-depth - reporting everything even if they think it is not important.

Question 6

Why is reporting everything important

Answer 6

Memory is a network of data and recalling everything might provide a link to part of that network. E.g., someone may not remember the time they saw a burglar break into their neighbours house, but if they remember they were watching Eastenders at the time, that then triggers the memory of what time it was.

Question 7

What is recall in reverse order

Answer 7

Asking witnesses to describe the event from end to beginning.

Question 8

Why is recall in reverse order important

Answer 8

Opens up different pathways to the memories; later memories could provide cues for earlier ones. Geiselman and Fisher proposed that due to the recency effect, people tend to recall more recent events more clearly than others. It is also very difficult to lie backwards, so it can also check for false statements.

Question 9

What is recall from a different perspective

Answer 9

Asking witnesses to describe the event from the perspective of another witness, or maybe even the offender’s point of view.

Question 10

Why is recall from a different perspective important

Answer 10

Speculative, but may provide cues that generate
new memories. It is thought it can reduce
schema effects. If you’re putting yourself in
someone else’s shoes, it reduces the likelihood of your own emotions and preconceived ideas about the events distorting your original memory of that event.

Question 11

Evaluation, evidence
Kohnken et al

Answer 11

P- One strength of cognitive interview in improving EWT is that there is research evidence that it is effective.

E- Kohnken et al, (meta analysis) found that, compared to standard interviewing techniques, the CI produced an increase of 81% in recall of correct information about an incident.

L- This suggests that the CI is more effective than standard interviewing techniques and could therefore help inform more practical applications within the criminal justice system.

Question 12

What did Kohnken et al find

Answer 12

compared to standard interviewing techniques, the CI produced an increase of… 81% in recall of correct information about an incident.

Question 13

Evaluation, evidence
Steina and Memon

Answer 13

P- In addition, a further strength of the cognitive interview in improving accuracy of EWT is that there is evidence that it is effective in real-life:

E- Stein & Memon (2006) tested the effectiveness of the C.I. in Brazil by using it to interview university cleaning staff who had been shown a videotaped abduction. They found that, compared to a standard police interview… the CI increased the amount of correct information recalled and was superior in producing forensically rich information (information more useful to the investigation of the crime).

L- This suggests that the CI could help reduce miscarriages of justice in many countries, and therefore can have a positive tangible effect within the justice system.

Question 14

What did Stein and Memon do and find

Answer 14

Tested the effectiveness of the C.I. in Brazil by using it to interview university cleaning staff who had been shown a videotaped abduction. They found that, compared to a standard police interview… the CI increased the amount of correct information recalled and was superior in producing forensically rich information (information more useful to the investigation of the crime).

Question 15

Evaluation, practical problems

Answer 15

P- There are also further practical problems with using the CI as a way to improve the accuracy of EWT:

E- According to Kebbell & Wagstaff’s (1999) survey report, police officers reported that they did use the CI but many were worried about the large amount of incorrect info that witnesses recalled AND the amount of time it takes to conduct a CI.

L- This suggests that it may be difficult for police to use the CI in practice limiting its effectiveness.

Question 16

Evaluation, issues with Memons research

Answer 16

P- However, there is a practical problem with the use CI as a way of improving accuracy of EWT as it may not be as effective if not used well:

E- In Memon et al.’s (1994) study, it was shown that police may not be given sufficient training, as detectives only received… 4 hours of training in the CI, which produced very little additional information.
This suggests that to be effective in improving accuracy of EWT , the CI requires more police training that it is realistically possible to provide within strained police budgets.

L- This therefore threatens the usefulness of technique if it cannot be appropriately put into practice.

Question 17

Evaluation, CI too complicated

Answer 17

P- It is also important to consider that it may be the way the CI is used that may make it be more or less effective in improving the accuracy of EWT.

E- Research conducted by Milne & Bull (2002) found that all 4 techniques used singularly produced more recall from a witness than a Standard interview . However, the RE + CR combination resulted in significantly more correct recall compared to using the other parts of the CI individually.

L- This suggests the CI is… maybe too complicated and they could simplify the process by only using the RE and CE stage. This would also help with regards to practical applications, as the process would be less time consuming when interviewing witnesses and it wouldn’t take as long to train officers in its use.

Question 18

What did Milne and Bull find

Answer 18

found that all 4 techniques used singularly produced more recall from a witness than a Standard interview . However, the RE + CR combination resulted in significantly more correct recall compared to using the other parts of the CI individually.

Question 19

What did Kebbel and Wagstaff find

Answer 19

survey report, police officers reported that they did use the CI but many were worried about the large amount of incorrect info that witnesses recalled AND the amount of time it takes to conduct a CI.