Podcast Summary
Enhancing Eyewitness Testimony with the Cognitive Interview: The cognitive interview, a technique to improve eyewitness testimony, uses several methods to enhance recall, including reporting every detail, reinstating context, reversing order, and changing perspectives. Research shows an average of 41% more correct information obtained through the cognitive interview compared to standard police interviews.
The use of the cognitive interview technique can significantly improve the accuracy of eyewitness testimony. Developed based on psychological insights into memory, the cognitive interview employs several techniques to enhance recall. These include encouraging witnesses to report every detail, no matter how seemingly irrelevant; reinstating the context of the event; reversing the order of events; and changing perspectives. The cognitive interview also includes additional elements, such as focusing on social dynamics and reducing anxiety, to further enhance recall. Research supports the effectiveness of the cognitive interview, with a meta-analysis showing an average of 41% more correct information obtained through the cognitive interview compared to standard police interviews.
Using the cognitive interview effectively in law enforcement: While some cognitive interview techniques can enhance witness recall, their inconsistent effectiveness and resource-intensive nature make it crucial for law enforcement to focus on a few proven techniques.
The cognitive interview can help witnesses recall hidden information, but it's crucial for law enforcement to use it carefully. Research indicates that while some cognitive interview techniques are effective, others may lead to inaccurate information or require extensive time and resources. For instance, Milne and Bull's study in 2002 revealed that certain techniques, such as "report everything" and "reinstating the context," yielded better recall than others. However, the inconsistent effectiveness of these techniques raises questions about the overall reliability of the cognitive interview. Moreover, the time-consuming nature and the need for specialized training make it challenging for police forces to adopt the complete cognitive interview. Therefore, focusing on a few key techniques could be a more practical and effective approach for law enforcement.
