CFI Statement Analysis & Verbal Behavior 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In SCAN (Scientific Content Analysis), what does an examiner look for regarding the opening of a subject's written account?
- Whether the subject uses passive voice throughout
- Whether the narrative begins before the alleged incident (Correct answer)
- Whether emotional language appears in the first paragraph
- Whether the statement matches the length of the questions asked
Correct answer: Whether the narrative begins before the alleged incident
SCAN practitioners examine whether the prologue begins prior to the alleged incident, as truthful subjects typically provide contextual background before describing the critical event.
Question 2: In statement analysis, using hedging phrases such as 'I think,' 'I believe,' or 'I'm not sure' when describing events the subject directly experienced is referred to as:
- Temporal lacunae
- Equivocation
- Lack of conviction (Correct answer)
- Narrative imbalance
Correct answer: Lack of conviction
Lack of conviction is evidenced by qualifying language that reduces certainty in areas where a subject with direct knowledge should be able to speak definitively.
Question 3: Which foundational principle underlies Criterion-Based Content Analysis (CBCA)?
- Fabricated accounts contain more sensory details than truthful ones
- Truthful accounts tend to score higher on credibility criteria than fabricated ones (Correct answer)
- The number of details in a statement is the primary indicator of truthfulness
- Written statements are more reliable than verbal accounts for analysis
Correct answer: Truthful accounts tend to score higher on credibility criteria than fabricated ones
CBCA is based on the hypothesis that genuine experienced events differ in content from fabricated or coached accounts, with truthful statements tending to contain more criteria-based content.
Question 4: In forensic statement analysis, spontaneous self-corrections made by a subject without prompting are generally considered:
- A sign of deception due to inconsistency in the account
- A positive credibility indicator suggesting genuine recall (Correct answer)
- Evidence the subject was coached before the interview
- An attempt to manipulate the interviewer's perception
Correct answer: A positive credibility indicator suggesting genuine recall
Spontaneous corrections are considered a CBCA positive credibility indicator because fabricators tend to rehearse a consistent story rather than naturally self-correct.
Question 5: What does 'temporal lacunae' refer to in statement analysis?
- A gap or missing time period in a subject's account (Correct answer)
- The use of past tense in an account about a current situation
- A discrepancy between verbal and written versions of a statement
- The delay between when an event occurred and when it was reported
Correct answer: A gap or missing time period in a subject's account
Temporal lacunae are gaps or missing time periods in a subject's narrative that may signal areas of omission or deception requiring further investigative attention.
Question 6: Which of the following best exemplifies a 'reliable denial' according to forensic statement analysis principles?
- 'I didn't do it, and I would never do anything like that.'
- 'I swear to God I had nothing to do with this.'
- 'I did not steal the funds from the account on Friday.' (Correct answer)
- 'Why would I do something like that to someone I care about?'
Correct answer: 'I did not steal the funds from the account on Friday.'
A reliable denial uses the first person, past tense, and specifically addresses the alleged act without deflection, oaths, or generalizations.
Question 7: In statement analysis, 'distancing language' refers to:
- Technical jargon that creates distance between a statement and lay audiences
- Passive constructions or dropped pronouns that psychologically separate a subject from an act (Correct answer)
- References to events occurring at a remote location
- Language designed to create physical space between the interviewer and subject
Correct answer: Passive constructions or dropped pronouns that psychologically separate a subject from an act
Distancing language involves passive voice, omitted pronouns, or impersonal constructions that create psychological separation between a subject and their actions, which may indicate deception or guilt.
CFI Statement Analysis & Verbal Behavior 1
In SCAN (Scientific Content Analysis), what does an examiner look for regarding the opening of a subject's written account?