CMI CMI Witness Interview Techniques & Human Factors 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The 'SHELL model' in human factors analysis is used to examine interactions between which components?
- Software, Hardware, Environment, Liveware (human), and Liveware (others) (Correct answer)
- Safety, Hazard, Equipment, Logistics, and Liability
- Stability, Heading, Engine, Load, and Lookout
- Standards, Hierarchy, Ethics, Law, and Licensing
Correct answer: Software, Hardware, Environment, Liveware (human), and Liveware (others)
The SHELL model evaluates the interfaces between the central human (Liveware) and Software, Hardware, Environment, and other humans to identify failure points.
Question 2: Which statement about leading questions in marine casualty witness interviews is correct?
- Leading questions should be avoided because they can distort or contaminate witness memory (Correct answer)
- Leading questions are acceptable because maritime witnesses are trained professionals
- Leading questions save time and are standard practice in formal USCG investigations
- Leading questions are only prohibited when interviewing crew members under 18
Correct answer: Leading questions should be avoided because they can distort or contaminate witness memory
Leading questions suggest an answer within the question itself, which can alter the witness's recollection and undermine the reliability of testimony.
Question 3: In a marine casualty investigation, the concept of 'normalization of deviance' describes:
- The gradual acceptance of unsafe practices as normal because they have not previously resulted in an accident (Correct answer)
- The standardization of deviation reporting forms across vessels
- A process by which investigators normalize data outliers in accident analysis
- The legal procedure for reclassifying minor incidents as non-reportable events
Correct answer: The gradual acceptance of unsafe practices as normal because they have not previously resulted in an accident
Normalization of deviance, identified by sociologist Diane Vaughan, occurs when repeated rule violations without negative consequences lead crews to treat unsafe behaviors as acceptable.
Question 4: What is the significance of documenting a witness's demeanor and non-verbal behavior during a marine casualty interview?
- It provides context that may help assess the credibility and reliability of the witness's statement (Correct answer)
- It fulfills a mandatory NTSB requirement for all marine investigation reports
- It establishes grounds for criminal charges against the witness if needed
- It replaces the need for a recorded statement under 46 CFR Part 4
Correct answer: It provides context that may help assess the credibility and reliability of the witness's statement
Non-verbal cues such as hesitation, eye contact, and body language can inform the investigator's assessment of a witness's confidence and truthfulness.
Question 5: A crew member's failure to follow a written procedure due to time pressure is best categorized under James Reason's error model as:
- A violation — a deliberate deviation from a rule or procedure (Correct answer)
- A slip — an unintentional error during an automatic action
- A lapse — a memory failure during a routine task
- A mistake — incorrect application of a good rule
Correct answer: A violation — a deliberate deviation from a rule or procedure
Under Reason's model, deliberately deviating from a known procedure — even for a perceived good reason — constitutes a violation rather than an inadvertent error.
Question 6: When interviewing a non-English-speaking witness in a US marine casualty investigation, the investigator should:
- Use a qualified interpreter and document the interpreter's identity in the interview record (Correct answer)
- Conduct the interview in writing using simplified English without an interpreter
- Defer the interview entirely to the flag state authority
- Use automated translation software as the sole translation method
Correct answer: Use a qualified interpreter and document the interpreter's identity in the interview record
A qualified interpreter ensures accurate communication, and documenting the interpreter's identity maintains the integrity and traceability of the interview record.
CMI CMI Witness Interview Techniques & Human Factors 2
The 'SHELL model' in human factors analysis is used to examine interactions between which components?