BMO Interview & Interrogation Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a structured interview, what is the advantage of using behavioral anchored rating scales (BARS)?
- They eliminate the need for follow-up questions
- They provide specific behavioral examples for each rating level, improving consistency (Correct answer)
- They allow interviewers to rate candidates on personality alone
- They replace the need for reference checks
Correct answer: They provide specific behavioral examples for each rating level, improving consistency
BARS links rating levels to specific observable behaviors, reducing subjectivity and improving inter-rater reliability across interviewers.
Question 2: Which psychological principle explains why suspects may comply with an interrogator who builds rapport before applying pressure?
- Cognitive dissonance
- Reciprocity
- Foot-in-the-door technique (Correct answer)
- Social proof
Correct answer: Foot-in-the-door technique
The foot-in-the-door technique works by gaining small initial agreements, making it psychologically easier for the suspect to comply with larger requests later.
Question 3: When interviewing a traumatized witness, which accommodation is most important?
- Conducting the interview as quickly as possible
- Allowing the witness to control the pace and providing frequent breaks (Correct answer)
- Using leading questions to help them recall events
- Having multiple interviewers present to verify the account
Correct answer: Allowing the witness to control the pace and providing frequent breaks
Trauma-informed interviewing prioritizes the witness's sense of control and comfort, which improves both wellbeing and the quality of information obtained.
Question 4: What distinguishes an 'admission' from a 'confession' in an investigative context?
- An admission is made voluntarily; a confession is coerced
- An admission acknowledges a fact without full guilt; a confession is a complete acknowledgment of guilt (Correct answer)
- A confession is written; an admission is verbal
- There is no legal distinction between the two
Correct answer: An admission acknowledges a fact without full guilt; a confession is a complete acknowledgment of guilt
An admission acknowledges a specific incriminating fact, while a confession is a comprehensive acknowledgment of participation in the offense.
Question 5: Which factor most significantly undermines the reliability of eyewitness testimony?
- The witness's level of education
- Stress and high arousal during the witnessed event (Correct answer)
- The distance between the witness and interviewer
- The time of day the interview is conducted
Correct answer: Stress and high arousal during the witnessed event
High stress during an event narrows attention and impairs memory encoding, significantly reducing eyewitness accuracy.
Question 6: What is the 'funnel approach' in investigative interviewing?
- Beginning with specific closed questions and moving to broad open questions
- Starting with broad open questions and progressively narrowing to specific details (Correct answer)
- Asking all questions simultaneously to save time
- Focusing exclusively on the suspect's alibi
Correct answer: Starting with broad open questions and progressively narrowing to specific details
The funnel approach begins with open-ended free recall questions and narrows toward specific probes, preserving the integrity of the witness's narrative.
Question 7: In employment screening interviews, which question type is legally problematic in the US?
- 'Tell me about a time you resolved a conflict at work.'
- 'What is your process for managing competing priorities?'
- 'Do you have any disabilities that would prevent you from doing this job?' (Correct answer)
- 'Describe your leadership style.'
Correct answer: 'Do you have any disabilities that would prevent you from doing this job?'
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), employers cannot ask about disabilities before a conditional job offer; they may only ask if the candidate can perform essential job functions.
BMO Interview & Interrogation Techniques 3
In a structured interview, what is the advantage of using behavioral anchored rating scales (BARS)?