It Takes Two: The Round-Robin Methodology for Investigative Interviewing Research

Abstract

This is the post print of the paper accepted in Frontiers in Psychology: Forensic and Legal Psychology on 22nd October 2018. Investigative interviews are complex, dyadic, social interactions typically studied by evaluating interviewers’ questioning strategies. In field settings, interviewers naturally vary in their interviewing practice. Thus, it is important to conduct research reflective of idiosyncrasies in witnesses, interviewers, and the resulting unique pairings. This study explored sources of variation in an interview by using a ‘round-robin’ design. Each session of the study involved five witnesses observing five separate events. Witnesses were then simultaneously, but independently interviewed by four different interviewers, or completed a self-administered written interview. This sequence was repeated until each witness had seen every event and had been interviewed by each interviewer. Over nine sessions (N = 45) this produced 225 total interviews. Individual interview performance (accuracy and level of detail) as well as experience (subjective ratings) were then analysed in relation to the typical performance of the interviewer, the witness, the event, and the unique paring. We found that witnesses and interviewers could have an effect on statement quality, however the unique interview experience variance had the greatest influence on interview performance. This study presents the round-robin methodology as a useful tool to study realistic variation in interviewer, witness, and dyad behaviour. The preprint of this paper is available at psyarxiv.com/tv5gz/, and materials and data are available at osf.io/ef634/files/.

Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder and Investigative interviewing: A systematic review highlighting clinical and legal implications and recommendations

“…Whilst certain courts in the United States already recognise FASD as a disability (Douds et al., 2013), there is need for more acceptance in several other settings and countries, and the provision of support. Also, few interview paradigms exist that are useful to assess investigative interviewing, for example the Round‐Robin Methodology (Hudson et al., 2018). Future research may use these investigative interview assessment tools with FASD‐impacted individuals to assess the impact of various interview techniques on the interview outcomes.…”

“…Whilst certain courts in the United States already recognise FASD as a disability (Douds et al, 2013), there is need for more acceptance in several other settings and countries, and the provision of support. Also, few interview paradigms exist that are useful to assess investigative interviewing, for example the Round-Robin Methodology (Hudson et al, 2018).…”