Human Memory
Lesson 18
Human Memory Cognitive Interviews Improving Accuracy of EWT Produced by
www.psychologyrevise.com www.learnconnect.co.uk
The Cognitive Interview • Because of the importance of EWT within the legal system, cognitive psychologists have tried to develop methods for improving the accuracy of EWT. • One of the suggestions put forward is the method used to question eyewitnesses. • Fisher et al. (1987) studied real interviews by experienced detective officers in Florida over a four month period.
• They found that witnesses were frequently bombarded with a series of brief, direct and closed ended questions aimed to elicit facts. • However, the sequencing of these questions often seemed out of sync with the witnesses own mental representation of the event. • Witnesses were often interrupted and not allowed to talk freely about their experiences. • Fisher felt that these interruptions were unhelpful because they broke the concentration of the witnesses and also encouraged shorter answers with less detail.
• Geiselman et al. (1985) developed the cognitive interview technique as a more effective tool for police investigators. • Geiselman and his colleagues identified four principles they believed would enhance accurate recall.
• See attached Appendix 1
• These techniques are all designed to enhance retrieval of the original memory. • Although this kind of detail might seem trivial and poorly related to the actual witnessed event, it is designed to provide extra cues that might help jog the witnesses memory. • Fisher et al. (1987) suggested adding a few extra features. For example, they recommended that the interviewer should minimise distractions, actively listen to the witness, ask open ended questions, pause after each response and avoid interruptions as far as possible.
Supporting Evidence • Geiselman et al. (1985) tested participants by showing them videos of a simulated crime and then testing different groups with a cognitive interview, a standard police interview or an interview under hypnosis. • They found that the cognitive interviews elicited more information from the participants then any other method.
Supporting Evidence • Fisher et al. (1990) have also demonstrated the effectiveness of the cognitive interview technique in real police settings in Miami. • They trained detectives to use the enhanced cognitive interview techniques with genuine crime witnesses and found that its use significantly increased the amount of information recalled.
Challenging Evidence • Kibbel et al. (1999) carried out a survey of police officers in the UK and found that there was quite widespread use of the cognitive interview approach. • However, while officers generally found it useful, they expressed some concern about the amount of incorrect recall generated and the amount of time it took to complete an enhanced cognitive interview. • It seemed that the officers were using RE and CR instructions but rarely used the CP and RO instructions.
Challenging Evidence • One area where the cognitive interview has not proved particularly successful is in the questioning of young children. • Geiselman (1999) reviewed a number of studies and concluded that children under the age of six years actually reported events slightly less accurate in response to cognitive interview techniques. • The cognitive interview can be used quite effectively for children aged from eight years upwards.