The Cognitive Interview

The Cognitive Interview

1. Identification Accuracy

   • Some research says CI can improve accuracy of facial composites but only when the generation of the composite emphases holistic retrieval.
   • CI can improve memory for holistically processed stimuli according to matching hypothesis; stimuli are best recalled when the processes involved in encoding and retrieval are the same.
   • Most studies show that CI doesn't have an effect on identification accuracy but this seems odd as context reinstatement can enhance face identification.
   • Verbal overshadowing effect = reason why CI may have no effect on identification accuracy. Recognition becomes impaired when asked to verbally describe a person as may create own visualisation of the face that may interfere with identification accuracy.
   • Finger & Pezdek (1999) CI impaired face recognition after a 10 minute delay but the impairment wore off after 1 hour. Verbal description effects wear off but CI was still no better than control condition.

2. Auditory/Ear Witness Memory

   • Davis & Freeman (2007) this area has been largely neglected by psycho-legal research.
   • Many crimes committed in the dark or over the telephone but ear witnesses are poor at recognising unfamiliar voices heard in unfamiliar situations.
   • Cases can involve statements and contents of specific conversations so it is useful to know if auditory memory can be facilitated.
   • Ohman et al (2013) short CI procedure could facilitate memory of a conversation but not memory for basic auditory information such as the persons voice.
   • Bower (1972) this happens because of the modality of the stimulus. Visual images are remembered better than words and conversations allow us to use imagery.
   • Auditory information will be best facilitated if it evokes visual cues and voices are less likely to do this.

3. Interviewing Suspects with the Cognitive Interview

   • Due to PACE and PEACE the techniques for interviewing witnesses and suspects cannot differ much. There is now no place for deception or intimidation.
   • Rapport building/social aspects of CI may be most important when interviewing suspects.
   • Holmberg & Christianson (2002) Swedish men convicted for murder or serious offences said more likely to confess if treat in friendly and humane way.
   • Kebbell & Hurren (2005) Australian sex offenders said if police officers were non-aggressive, honest and didn't provide false accusations then would be more likely to confess.
   • Des Lauriers-Varin & St-Yves (2006) strength of evidence and legal advice at time of interview best predictors of whether they confessed or not.
   • GRIMACE has been applied in several countries for interviewing suspects: Gather Reliable Information, Motivate an Account, Challenge Effectively.
   • The cognitive interview may be useful for suspects because of non-evidence based factors that influence confession but effects are bound to be limited as main factor is weight of evidence.

4. Geiselman (2012) 8 elements of the cognitive interview.

   • Rapport/introduction.
   • Free narrative - a detailed account.
   • Draw a sketch.
   • Open-ended questions for more detail.
   • Reverse order technique.
   • Challenge comes at the end.
   • Review.
   • Closure.