⚪️ Memory - Cognitive Interview

Question 1

Who developed the cognitive interview

Answer 1

Edward Geiselman and Ronald Fisher 1984

Question 2

What is the cognitive interview

Answer 2

Questioning techniques used to improve eyewitness recall. Based on psychological research on memory cues. Aims to help witnesses retrieve more accurate information

Question 3

Acronym for techniques in the cognitive interview

Answer 3

R - Reinstate the context
O - reverse the Order
P - change Perspective
E - report Everything

Question 4

What does it mean to reinstate the context

Answer 4

• eyewitnesses mentally return to the scene
• focus on external factors (environment, weather)
• consider internal factors

Question 5

What does it mean to reverse the order

Answer 5

• Recall the events from the end to beginning
• counters the recency effect in memory
• disrupts influence of schemas
• leads to accurate recall

Question 6

What does it mean to change perspective

Answer 6

• recall events from different view points
• consider perspectives of others
• help disrupts effects of schemas
• provides additional cues for memory recall

Question 7

What does it mean to report everything

Answer 7

• encouraged to share all details no matter how small
• prevents filtering or selection of information
• small details trigger important information

Question 8

What is the enhanced cognitive interview

Answer 8

developed by Fisher et al 1987
- builds on the original cognitive interview
- creates comfortable environment for sharing details
- emphasises building rapport with the eyewitness (close harmonious relationship)

Question 9

Lab experiment supporting CI

Answer 9

• Guiselman et al (1985)
• 41.1 details correct compared to 29.4 in standard interview

Question 10

Natural experiment supporting CI

Answer 10

• fisher et al (1989)
• 7 trained officers CI vs 9 non-trained officers
• 63% more information with 90% accuracy for trained

Question 11

Kohnken et al
(1999) evidence for supporting cognitive interview

Answer 11

• found in a meta analysis of 53 studies that there was an increase of 53% in correct information when using the CI, compared to standard interview

Question 12

Holliday research into CI

Answer 12

2003, groups of children aged 4-5 and 9-10 shown a 5 min video of a child’s birthday party. Next day all the children were interviewed by CI or standard
- findings shown that the use of the cognitive interview resulted in more accurate details recalled about the video compared to standard interview
Shows suitable for children

Question 13

3 limitations of CI

Answer 13

• time consuming to conduct and train officers
• may produce more errors in enhanced version
• police often lack time for full cognitive interview