NCJ Number
199621
Journal
Legal and Criminological Psychology Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2003 Pages: 21-38
Date Published
February 2003
Length
18 pages
Annotation
The research reported in this article found that the technique of cognitive interviewing (CI) increased the reporting of information by children 21 percent and also helped children to resist the negative effects of suggestive questions.
Abstract
The CI, which was initially developed in the United States by Geiselman and Fisher, aims to increase the quantity and quality of information elicited from cooperative witnesses, victims, and suspects. CI techniques are designed to improve memory retrieval and dyadic communication. The objectives of the study reported in this article were to determine whether the CI would enhance event recall when used with children; which categories of event recall might be affected; and from where in the interview any CI effect stemmed. The second set of objectives involved determining whether the CI increased the resistance of children to suggestive questions and whether scripts had a role in susceptibility to suggestion. The study methodology involved showing 84 children 8- to 10-years-old a video recording of a magic show. A day later they were interviewed individually by using either the CI or a structured interview. A predetermined list of suggestive questions was also administered to the children either before or after being interviewed. The study found that those children interviewed with CI techniques recalled significantly more correct details about persons and actions, with no increase in the reporting of erroneous information. These effects were found to stem from the questioning phase of the CI. In addition, those children interviewed with CI techniques were more resistant to subsequent suggestive questions, especially misleading script-consistent questions. 3 tables, 49 references, and appended listing of CI and structured interviewing techniques and a predetermined list of questions