Memory- Improving The Accuracy If Eyewitness Testimony 7/7

Question 1

EWT is inaccurate

Answer 1

numerous research studies have indicated that EWT lacks accuracy due to factors such as anxiety, leading questions and post-event contamination

Question 2

Improving EWT

Answer 2

Fisher (1987) studied the techniques used by the police in Florida when interviewing witnesses. The following factors were identified as needing improvement and called the standard interview.
• Witnesses were given a large number of quick, direct and closed questions in a short time.
• The order of questions were not asked in a way that matched witnesses mental representation.
• Witnesses were not able to talk freely about their experience, were frequently interrupted.

Question 3

Cognitive Interview CI

Answer 3

is a range of techniques that Fisher and Geiselman (1985) suggested police interviewers can use in order to improve the accuracy of EWT

Question 4

Standard interview

Answer 4

• Questions are quick, direct and closed, over a short time.
• Question order does not match a witnesses
mental
representation.
• Witnesses are not able to talk freely about their experience, and frequently interrupted.

Question 5

Fisher and Geiselman’s Cognitive Interview 1985

Answer 5

• Context reinstatement (CR)
Mentally returning to the scene of the crime, including physical environment and emotional state. This is based on cue dependent forgetting (context/state)

• Report everything (RE) All details, even if they seem irrelevant should be mentioned, triggering memories.

• Recall from a changed perspective (CP) Consider/mentally recreate how the crime would be recalled from perspective of other witnesses/ perpetrator. ‘holistic’ view of event to minimise bias and disrupt schema

• Recall in reverse order (RO) Recall is switch to different chronology/ timelines. For example from the end to beginning. Or middle to start. This
challenges expectations/schemas

Question 6

Context reinstatement

Answer 6

CR

• Context reinstatement (CR)
Mentally returning to the scene of the crime, including physical environment and emotional state. This is based on cue dependent forgetting (context/state)

Question 7

Report everything

Answer 7

RE

• Report everything (RE)
All details, even if they seem irrelevant should be mentioned, triggering memories.

Question 8

Recall from a changed perspective

Answer 8

CP

• Recall from a changed perspective (CP) Consider/mentally recreate how the crime would be recalled from perspective of other witnesses/ perpetrator. ‘holistic’ view of event to minimise bias and disrupt schema

Question 9

Recall in reverse order

Answer 9

RO

• Recall in reverse order (RO)
Recall is switch to different chronology/ timelines. For example from the end to beginning. Or middle to start. This challenges expectations/schema

Question 10

Enhanced cognitive interview

Answer 10

Focused on building rapport and making the interviewee comfortable

• Interviewer not distracting witness
• Witness controlling flow of information
• open-ended questions
Reminded not to guess and use
‘Don’t know’ option when necessary.
• Reduce anxiety in witness and gitting them to relax

Question 11

Fisher, Geiselman and Amador
(1989)

Answer 11

Fisher, Geiselman, & Amador (1989) used a field study to compare 7 detectives trained in Cl with 9 detectives using the standard interview. The results showed the Cl trained detectives received 47% more information in real interviews after their training and 63% more information than the untrained detectives. This suggests the cognitive interview is effective in enhancing memory, improving information gained by real interviewing police officers operating in the field.

Question 12

Kohnken et al 1999

Answer 12

In a meta-analysis of 42 studies including over 2500 interviews Kohnken et al (1999) found a significant increase in the amount of correct information recalled.
However there was also a significant increase in the amount of incorrect information recalled resulting in a very similar accuracy rate 85% Cl and 82% SI.

This suggests the Cl may be of limited practical use due to increased errors.

Question 13

Milne and Bull (2002)

Answer 13

Milne & Bull (2002) investigated the effect on recall of each of the four aspects of the Cl separately. Each aspect produced a similar level of recall however the CR+ RE condition produced significantly more correct recall. This suggests no one aspect is more important in the Cl but the effect of the Cl is cumulative.

Question 14

Evaluation
Practical problem

Answer 14

A practical problem is Cl can be time-consuming, requiring more time than officers have available especially when conducting a time sensitive case. Also, the CI requires significant training and investment, diverting officers from their normal work.

These issues mean the Cl may not be adopted due to the limited financial resources available to police forces.

Question 15

Evaluation
Cost benefit analysis

Answer 15

A cost benefit analysis would consider the effect on the overall justice system and economy of the Cl. It may be worth the additional resources invested in training to make a more effective police force, with the Cl ultimately reducing crime and its cost to wider society.

Question 16

Evaluation
Not effective

Answer 16

The cognitive interview is not effective in improving the recognition of suspects in identity parades and from photographs.

This means the Cl has limited usefulness in a number of common police activities involving witness testimony.

Question 17

Evaluation
Egocentric

Answer 17

The cognitive interview has been found to be effective with older children and adults, but not effective with very young children as they are egocentric (can only see the word from their own perspective). Holliday was able to create a modified cognitive interview (MCI) adapted to children’s developmental level, this provided more accurate testimony in 4-5 year old children than a standard interview.