Psychology & Law 2000words essay

Interviewing

Cognitive Interviewing

48% more correct information from victims

Significant reduction of the impact of misleading questions

Effective when dealing with anxious or inarticulate witnesses

Four Principles

Reinstate the context

Report everything, no matter how trivial

Recount the event in different orders

Recount the event from different perspectives

Research Findings

Each component is equally effective in improving accurate recall of information

A combination of CI mnemonics produces better recall compared to any of the mnemonics used on their own

The context reinstatement is perhaps the most powerful component of the CI

Finally…

Improves witnesses’ memory of events

Reduces the amount of incorrect and confabulated details remembered

Reduces the effect of misinformation

Common misunderstandings

Table included in summary sheet