CCP Cognitive Interviewing 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The enhanced cognitive interview (ECI) added which major component to the original cognitive interview?
- Polygraph verification
- Rapport building and communication techniques (Correct answer)
- Hypnotic induction
- DNA evidence correlation
Correct answer: Rapport building and communication techniques
The ECI incorporated social dynamics and rapport-building strategies to reduce witness anxiety and improve information yield.
Question 2: Which cognitive principle underlies the 'reverse order recall' technique?
- Primacy-recency effect
- Disruption of scripted recall and schema-driven reconstruction (Correct answer)
- State-dependent learning
- Proactive interference theory
Correct answer: Disruption of scripted recall and schema-driven reconstruction
Recalling events in reverse order prevents witnesses from relying on pre-existing schemas, forcing retrieval of specific episodic details.
Question 3: During a cognitive interview, an interviewer asks: 'What sounds do you remember hearing during the event?' This is an example of:
- Leading questioning
- Multi-sensory cueing to expand recall (Correct answer)
- Forced-choice recognition
- Suggestibility testing
Correct answer: Multi-sensory cueing to expand recall
Multi-sensory cueing prompts witnesses to activate auditory, olfactory, and tactile memory traces that might not emerge through purely visual prompts.
Question 4: In the context of cognitive interviewing, 'witness-compatible questioning' means:
- Matching question complexity to the witness's education level
- Aligning questions to the imagery and codes the witness is currently accessing (Correct answer)
- Using a standardized question script approved for court
- Restricting questions to facts previously confirmed by other witnesses
Correct answer: Aligning questions to the imagery and codes the witness is currently accessing
Witness-compatible questioning avoids forcing witnesses to switch cognitive representations mid-recall, which disrupts retrieval.
Question 5: Which population has shown the greatest absolute benefit from cognitive interviewing compared to standard interviewing?
- Young children under age six
- Expert eyewitnesses such as law enforcement officers
- Adult civilian eyewitnesses (Correct answer)
- Elderly witnesses with mild cognitive impairment
Correct answer: Adult civilian eyewitnesses
Meta-analyses consistently show adult civilian witnesses produce significantly more correct information with CI compared to standard interviews.
Question 6: A witness says, 'I'm not sure if I should mention this — it's probably nothing.' The cognitively trained interviewer should respond by:
- Confirming the detail is off-topic and refocusing the witness
- Encouraging the witness to share the detail regardless of perceived importance (Correct answer)
- Recording the hesitation as a potential deception indicator
- Asking the witness to consult an attorney before continuing
Correct answer: Encouraging the witness to share the detail regardless of perceived importance
The report-everything principle specifically targets self-censorship; interviewers should reinforce that all details are welcome.
Question 7: Which statement accurately describes the relationship between cognitive interviewing and the misinformation effect?
- Cognitive interviewing increases susceptibility to misinformation by opening memory traces
- Cognitive interviewing is neutral and has no effect on misinformation susceptibility
- Cognitive interviewing reduces misinformation contamination by eliciting detailed original memories before suggestive questions arise (Correct answer)
- Cognitive interviewing was developed specifically to introduce misinformation for interrogation purposes
Correct answer: Cognitive interviewing reduces misinformation contamination by eliciting detailed original memories before suggestive questions arise
By eliciting rich, detailed narratives early, CI strengthens original memory traces and reduces the window of vulnerability to post-event misinformation.
CCP Cognitive Interviewing 3
The enhanced cognitive interview (ECI) added which major component to the original cognitive interview?