Private Investigator Exam Interview & Skip Tracing 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In investigative interviewing, what is the primary goal of the 'rapport-building' phase?
- To catch the subject in a lie immediately
- To establish trust and reduce anxiety so the subject communicates more freely (Correct answer)
- To obtain a signed statement right away
- To review the subject's criminal record with them
Correct answer: To establish trust and reduce anxiety so the subject communicates more freely
Rapport-building establishes trust and puts the subject at ease, making them more likely to cooperate and provide useful, truthful information.
Question 2: What type of question elicits the most detailed information from a witness?
- Leading questions
- Closed-ended questions
- Open-ended questions (Correct answer)
- Yes/no questions
Correct answer: Open-ended questions
Open-ended questions invite the witness to narrate in their own words, producing more detailed and less suggestible responses than closed or leading questions.
Question 3: What is 'skip tracing' in private investigation?
- Following a subject on foot without being noticed
- Locating a person who has left without providing a forwarding address (Correct answer)
- Tracing the origin of an anonymous tip
- Documenting a subject's daily routine
Correct answer: Locating a person who has left without providing a forwarding address
Skip tracing is the process of locating a person who has 'skipped' town or cannot be found through normal means, often using public records, databases, and interviews.
Question 4: Which public record is commonly used in skip tracing to find a subject's current address?
- Medical records
- Voter registration records (Correct answer)
- Tax returns
- School transcripts
Correct answer: Voter registration records
Voter registration records are public in many US states and often contain a registrant's current address, making them a valuable skip-tracing resource.
Question 5: A 'cognitive interview' technique in investigations is designed to:
- Detect deception through physiological measurements
- Enhance the recall of eyewitness memory through mental reinstatement of context (Correct answer)
- Confront a suspect with contradictory evidence
- Administer a written questionnaire to witnesses
Correct answer: Enhance the recall of eyewitness memory through mental reinstatement of context
The cognitive interview technique uses mental context reinstatement to help witnesses recall more accurate and detailed memories of an event.
Question 6: What is a 'leading question' and why should PIs avoid them during witness interviews?
- A question that begins the interview; they slow down the process
- A question that suggests the desired answer; it can taint the witness's account (Correct answer)
- A question about the subject's past; it may be irrelevant
- A formal court question; it is inappropriate outside of court
Correct answer: A question that suggests the desired answer; it can taint the witness's account
Leading questions embed the expected answer and can contaminate a witness's memory or testimony, making the interview less reliable and subject to legal challenge.
Private Investigator Exam Interview & Skip Tracing 1
In investigative interviewing, what is the primary goal of the 'rapport-building' phase?