the cognitive interview

Question 1

what is the cognitive interview

Answer 1

• developed in 1985 due to criticisms of the traditional police interview
• fisher et al (1987) studied police interviews in florida and found they gave short closed questions trying to get facts, and police would ask questions in a sequence not synchronised with the events
• geiselman et al (1985) developed the cognitive interview, they identified 4 key principles to aid recall

Question 2

context reinstatement

Answer 2

mentally recalling the context of the day, e.g. the time, weather, who they were with or their feelings

Question 3

report everything

Answer 3

recalling every detail a person can remember no matter how little

Question 4

recall from changed perspective

Answer 4

consider the events from someone else’s point of view

Question 5

recall in reversed order

Answer 5

recalling the events in reverse chronological order

Question 6

give a strength of the cognitive interview
1/2

Answer 6

research support from geiselman (1985). 89 students watched a video of a simulated crime and 2 days later they were interviewed with either the standard police interview or the cognitive interview. they found that those who were interviewed with the cognitive interview recalled more correct info (41.5 on average) than those interviewed with the standard police interview (29.3). the number of incorrect items recalled was similar for both groups (7.3 for cognitive interview and 6.1 for standard police interview). this suggests that the cognitive interview is effective in improving the quantity of info recalled

Question 7

give a strength of the cognitive interview
2/2

Answer 7

supported by other research, e.g. fisher et al (1989). researchers examined cognitive interview in real police interviews. 16 detectives recorded some of their interviews using the standard technique and were split into 2 groups, one who learnt the cognitive interview and the other stuck with the standard. after, their subsequent interviews were recorded and analysed. the trained detectives got 46% more info, and when it could be confirmed over 90% of the info was accurate. this supports geiselmans findings and the effectiveness of the cognitive interview

Question 8

give a limitation of the cognitive interview
1/2

Answer 8

still susceptible to misleading info. centofanti and reece (2006) showed participants a video of a bank robbery then provided them with a misleading or neutral summary. on average those questioned with the cognitive interview recalled 35% more info, but both groups were equally susceptible to misleading info. so although the cognitive interview enhances the amount of info recalled, it must be ensured participants aren’t exposed to misleading info

Question 9

give a limitation of the cognitive interview
2/2

Answer 9

kebbell and wagstaff (1996) found police typically use interviewing techniques that limit the quantity of info provided rather than those that will improve accuracy. additionally, the cognitive interview requires special training and most police forces haven’t provided sufficient training, explaining why the cognitive interview isn’t readily used.