Recently in Cognitive Interview Category

                                    Summary: Enhancing Older Adult Eyewitness Memory

                                                With the Cognitive Interview

            In this article, the experimenters looked at older adult's memory to see if deficits exist (Mello & Ronald, 1995).  A social stigma is attached to older adults regarding memory problems.  Jurors and young people both believe that older individuals have poor memory and this often leads to the generalization that they are also bad eyewitnesses.  Older adults are at a higher risk for crimes like being robbed or raped.  It is scary to think that older people are more at risk to be victims of these crimes and that they suffer from memory problems.  This could lead to the older eyewitness not being able to identify the perpetrator or accusing the wrong person. 

This article also dealt with the cognitive interview.  The researchers constructed a modified version of the cognitive interview tailored it to older individuals needs.  Three interviewing techniques were used: the cognitive interview, a modified version of the cognitive interview, and the standard police interview.  The cognitive interview yielded more information than the standard interview without a reduction in accuracy rate.  There was no difference found between the cognitive interview and the modified version. 

The cognitive interview is based on memory retrieval, general cognition, social dynamics, and communication.  These techniques enrich eyewitness's memory by recreating the original encoding context by minimizing background noise, and ensuring the comfort of witnesses.  The normal cognitive interview has eyewitnesses describe the events from a different person's perspective: older people have a hard time running two metal processes at once and are not good at perspective taking therefore is exempt from the modified version.

 Another reason way the standard police interview does not facilitate to older eyewitness's memory is because police officers conduct the interviews too quickly and require the witness to listen and search their memory which is also hard for older adults.  Cognitive interviews are given at a much slower pace and ensure the witness is comfortable and not rushed.  Although, the cognitive interview takes longer, it is well worth it. 

by MS

Eyewitness Memory Summary

            This article on eyewitness memory examined the benefits of cognitive retrieval mnemonics and hypnosis on police interviews.  Both the cognitive interview and hypnosis approach elicit a greater number of correct items of information than the standard interview.  This was determined after subjects watched police training videos of crime simulations and from previous research.

 The most beneficial way to start off interviews is for the eyewitness to report all the details of the event they know.  This has been found to be more accurate, but not as complete.  I would think that this would be most beneficial because you could guide yourself through the whole event and be able to recall more.  When the witness has given all that they remember, the interviewer then asks indefinite questions.  Both of these procedures combined reduce the likelihood that interviewers will lead the witness by asking specific questions and distorting memories.  I have learned from this class so far that the brain is very malleable, especially in stressful situations. 

The article touched on work by Wells about system and estimator variables as well.  System variables are controlled by law enforcement and deal with how interviews, lineups, and other police procedures are conducted (Wells et al., 1978).  Wells said that system variables need to be fixed in order to better provide for the criminal justice system.  Estimator variables are beyond our control and include memories and perceptions of the crime. 

Many studies have found that hypnosis does not enhance memory and that eyewitnesses may introduce fabrications into their reports as well as be more susceptible to leading questions and be more likely to view distorted memories as accurate.  I can see how this could happen because the hypnotic state of mind is very different from our normal state. 

Gieselman developed the cognitive interview.  The cognitive interview is a memory retrieval procedure that has witnesses mentally recreate the environment and report everything.  Also, the cognitive interviewer has eyewitnesses recount events in different order and from different perspectives.  If done right, the cognitive interview is better than both the standard interview and hypnosis. 

by MS

                                    Summary: The Effect of Rapport in

Forensic Interviewing

            This article looked at the effects of building rapport with eyewitnesses.  It suggests that in clinical, experimental, or forensic settings, building a relationship with the witness enhances the quality of the interaction.  The results of the experiment indicate that participants in the rapport interview recalled more correct information and the same amount of incorrect information.

 I have never been an eyewitness to a crime, but if I did, I would be more willing to give information and more cooperative if the officer was friendly.  The best method of interviewing is promoting free-recall at first then asking specific questions.  The cognitive method is designed to jog specific methods like asking the witness to reconstruct the circumstances of the event in whole and in different order.  The cognitive interview sounds a lot more witness oriented.  This is a lot more conducive to facilitating and remembering events and details. 

It is suggested that interviews that are conducted in a pleasant and comfortable environment yield more compliant and cooperative eyewitnesses.  An enriched environment can have a positive influence on many things like learning, mood, and in this case a better witness.  The article states that it is a hard thing to measure. 

Rapport is defined as "harmonious, empathetic, or sympathetic relation or connection to another self."  The results of the study indicate that when the interviewer built rapport, there were more correct bits of information found and that no increase in incorrect bits occurred.  The results show that the relationship between the interviewer and the interviewee are very important and can lead to more accurate information.  Building rapport and ensuring a comfortable environment also leads to more information and a more cooperative eyewitness.  Building rapport can also be helpful if the eyewitness has more information or it is necessary to meet with them again. 

By MS