Interviewing techniques and the assessment of statement credibility

Abstract

The objective of this study is the development of an applicable comprehensive questioning and statement analysis procedure. One hundred and thirty-six male residents of the Wynne Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice -Institutional Division (TDCJ -ID) witnessed a staged theft, and provided testimony. Interview formats followed semi-standardized scripts derived from Structured Interview, Inferential Interview and Cognitive Interview techniques. Participants were randomly assigned to one of six experimental conditions in a 2(honesty of reporting) Â 3(interview technique) matrix. Results found a 62% classification accuracy for the Structured Interview, 68% for the Cognitive Interview and 82% for the Inferential Interview, when comparisons were made between treatment phases of each interview condition. When responses given to each interview segment were analysed, 83% of the Structured Interview transcripts were correctly identified, as were 91% of the Inferential and 92.9% of the Cognitive Interview statements. The desire to prevaricate while escaping detection produced statements which were systematically different from honest reporting, as seen in the variables of coherence, response length, type-token ratio, and verbal hedges. These results indicate a potential forensic utility for strategies which attempt to detect deception through a combination of qualitative and quantitative statement characteristics, and underscore the need for systematic, question-by-question analysis of eyewitness statements.

Using unexpected questions to elicit information and cues to deceit in interpreter‐based interviews

“…For example, in the sentence "We went by car to Amsterdam," we would not count the word "went." We are aware of coding schemes were such action details are counted (e.g., Colwell, Hiscock, & Memon, 2002). We do not think that our coding scheme was not sensitive enough.…”

Educing Information: Interrogation: Science and Art Foundations for the Future

“…• Social science -The tools of social science have not been applied to the problems of interrogation in any substantial way, 5 yet such an effort could obviously be undertaken and might produce substantial benefi ts. This is especially true as the United States accumulates experience in interrogating suspected terrorists, and producing data that could be systematically analyzed.…”

“…Stay ahead of the competition. The center of mass for research in this area should not be China, 76 Japan 2,5,31,78,85,86 or even Israel. 2,23 Every technique has its limitations, and aggressive discovery will also allow the United States to stay ahead of competitors and provide training and countermeasures to ensure U.S. personnel retain a fi eld advantage.…”

“…In contrast, the activities of intelligence offi cials are governed by international and federal guidelines pertaining to the treatment of prisoners, priority intelligence requirements, the need to manage a potentially 28 During his recall to active duty from June 2003 to January 2005, the author served as the Department of Defense Senior Intelligence Offi cer for Special Survival Training. 29 KUBARK,[4][5] long-term exploitation process, and the pursuit of actionable information and/or information that corroborates or contributes to intelligence data gathered from other sources.…”

“…Between the 12th and 14th centuries, punishment was given a religious quality by associating it with purifi cation before a Supreme Being, or God. 5 The individuals infl icting pain were only instruments in the hands of the Almighty, performing a service for the targeted individual. It was reasoned that if the tortured individual suffered suffi ciently on this earth, he would not have to undergo the sufferings of eternal damnation.…”