Memory -> Improving EWT

Question 1

Cognitive Interview

Answer 1

Fisher et al. studied real police interviews over a four-month period and found that questions were brief, direct, fact based and closed.

Witnesses were often interrupted and not allowed to expand upon their answers. This was referred to as the standard interview.

Fisher et al. argued that this might be contributing to the failure of eyewitnesses to accurately recall the event they had witnessed.

Question 2

Context Reinstatement:

Answer 2

The witness tries to mentally recreate an image of the situation, including details of the environment, such as the weather conditions and their emotional state, including their feelings at the time of the incident. These may act as retrieval cues (context) to improve recall.

Question 3

Report Everything:

Answer 3

The interviewer encourages the witness to recall all details about the event, even though these details may seem to be unimportant. This may highlight details which have been overlooked and trigger other memories.

Question 4

Recall From Changed Perspective:

Answer 4

The witness tries to mentally recreate the situation from different points of view, e.g. describing what another witness present at the scene would have seen. This promotes a more holistic view of the event which might enhance recall and reduce the influence of schemas. Schemas are mental structures of preconceived ideas.

Question 5

Recall in Reverse Order:

Answer 5

The witness is asked to recall the scene in a different chronological order, e.g. from the end to the beginning. This should verify the accuracy of the account and reduce the possibility that recall may be influenced by schemas.

Question 6

Enhanced Cognitive Interview

Answer 6

Fisher added additional guidelines for police interviews;
- Encourage the witness to relax and speak slowly (this will reduce anxiety & may enhance recall).
- Avoid distractions.
- Use open-ended questions.
- Offer comments to help clarify witness statements (may improve detail of the statement).

Question 7

Strengths of EWT

Answer 7

Most information recalled
&
46% increase in information given to police

Question 8

Weaknesses of EWT

Answer 8

Time consuming
&
Misleads witnesses into speculation