MEMORY

MEMORY

1. COGNITIVE INTERVIEW - Fisher and Geiselman

   • 1. REPORT EVERYTHING
     • The witnesses are encouraged to include everything they remember, it may seem irrelevant but may trigger more important memories
   • 2. REINSTATEMENT OF THE CONTEXT
     • Returning to the crime scene 'in their mind' to recreate the physical and psychological environment of the incident - making memories more accessible
   • 3. REVERSE THE ORDER
     • Events are recalled in a different order to the original order, from the middle for example. Our recollections can be influenced by schemas.
   • 4. CHANGE THE PERSPECTIVE
     • Recalling the incident from the perspective of other people, this disrupts the effect of your schema
   • TIME CONSUMING
     • Takes longer than a standard police interview
     • More time allows the witness to relax
     • Requires more training, therefore unlikely that the 'proper' version of CI is used
   • EFFECTIVENESS
     • 34% more correct information generated compared to standard police interview
       • tested in a lab - don't reflect real-world practices
       • 61% increase in incorrect information due to the increase in quantity
         • Doesn't guarantee accuracy
   • THE ENHANCED COGNITIVE INTERVIEW
     • FISHER - additional elements such as knowing when to establish eye-contact.
       • Reduces anxiety, minimises distractions and gives open ended questions
   • VARIATIONS
     • CI can include all elements or only a few
   • INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES
     • negative stereotypes about older people's memory (declining) can make them hesitant about what they report.