CFI Statement Analysis & Verbal Behavior 2

Question 1

In verbal behavior analysis, 'paralinguistic cues' include which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Voice quality, pitch, rate of speech, and pauses

Answer

Paralinguistic cues are the non-verbal aspects of speech—including tone, pitch, pace, volume, and pauses—that convey meaning beyond the literal words used.

Question 2

Cognitive load theory applied to deception research suggests that deceptive individuals may exhibit:

Accepted Answer

Slower speech, longer pauses, and shorter responses

Answer

Cognitive load theory holds that fabricating a false account demands greater mental resources than recalling a true one, which may manifest as slower speech, increased pauses, and less detailed responses.

Question 3

A subject consistently uses first-person pronouns throughout their statement but drops them in two specific passages, describing actions in passive voice instead. This pattern MOST likely indicates:

Accepted Answer

Possible psychological distancing from those specific events or actions

Answer

Dropping first-person pronouns in favor of passive constructions creates psychological distancing and is a recognized statement analysis indicator of potential deception or discomfort with specific events.

Question 4

The Statement Validity Assessment (SVA) methodology is composed of which three components?

Accepted Answer

Structured interview, CBCA, and a Validity Checklist

Answer

SVA consists of a structured interview to obtain the statement, Criteria-Based Content Analysis (CBCA) to evaluate its content, and a Validity Checklist to rule out alternative explanations.

Question 5

When a subject refers to another individual with a pronoun throughout their statement but switches to using that person's first name in two specific passages, this change MOST likely reflects:

Accepted Answer

Heightened emotional significance or psychological closeness in those passages

Answer

Changes in how a subject refers to another person can signal shifts in psychological proximity or emotional significance; using a name where a pronoun was used suggests heightened engagement in that area.

(CFI) Certified Forensic Interviewer Practice Test

(CFI) Certified Forensic Interviewer Practice Test

CFI Statement Analysis & Verbal Behavior 2