Examining the efficacy of a self‐administered report form in missing person investigations

Abstract

Purpose: The success of missing person investigations often centres on the quality of information obtained in the early stages. Reliable information can not only inform the search but might also become vital evidence if the case broadens into a criminal investigation relating to a sexual offence, abduction, or even murder. In addition to eliciting high quality information, police officers must consider that those close to the missing person are likely going through a very difficult and stressful time. Across two studies, we developed and tested a self-administered form (SAI-MISSING) designed to obtain reliable information that would meaningfully inform a missing person investigation, as well as providing a means for family and friends to be actively involved. Methods: In Experiment 1, 65 participants were tested individually and asked to provide a description of a person they knew well but had not seen for 24 hours. In the second study, 64 participants were tested in pairs, but immediately separated into different rooms and instructed to imagine that the person they came with has gone missing. In both studies participants completed either the SAI-MISSING tool, or a selfadministered control form.

Self-generated cues: the role of cue quality in facilitating eyewitness recall

“…Several promising strategies have been employed in the literature. For example, keyword generation (Tullis & Benjamin, 2015a;van Dam et al, 1987), or self-directed reporting using the Sketch MRC (Dando et al, 2009), the Timeline Technique (Hope et al, 2013;2019;Kontogianni et al, 2018;, or a body diagram (e.g., Gabbert et al, 2009;Gabbert et al, 2020). However, research has not yet examined the impact of different SGC mnemonics on recall performance.…”