Memory: Improving the accuracy of EWT Flashcards
Who developed the cognitive interview?
What does it encourage witnesses to do?
Fisher and Geiselman 1992
it encourages witnesses to relax and speak slowly to reduce anxiety
What are the 4 features of the cognitive interview?
Explain the first 2
Report Everything
Reinstate context
Report from changed perspective
Report in reverse order
Report everything-recall all details regardless of how unimportant they seem incase details are overlooked
-this may trigger other important info
Reinstate context-mentally recreate environment , this is linked to RF as context may provide cues
Explain the final 2 stages of the cognitive interview
Recall from changed perspective-promotes a more holistic view of the event and disrupts the effect of expectations and schemas on accuracy of recall
Recall in reverse order-verifies accuracy as prevents people reporting their expectations instead of the truth
Who developed the enhanced CI and when?
What does this include?
Fisher et al in 1987
-reducing EW anxiety
-minimising distractions
-gets witnesses to speak slowly
-ask open ended Qs
What are the 2 strengths of the cognitive interview?
+there is supporting evidence for its use
-(Kohnken 2008) did a meta analysis of 42 studies and found that the ECI increased the no of correctly recalled interviews compared to a standard interview , adds validity
+further support from Milne and Bull (2002)
they found using a combo of RE and RC lead to more correct recall then the techniques on their own this adds reliability and increases confidence in its effectiveness
What are the 2 limitations of the cognitive interview?
-it can also increase inaccurate recall
Kohnken 1999 found a 61% increase in incorrect recall when ECI used compared to standard interview which challenges its effectiveness
-research in police departments suggests they aren’t used
-its time consuming and requires specialist training so lacks practicality which reduces its credibility and effectiveness as a technique
