Protecting eyewitness evidence: Examining the efficacy of a self-administered interview tool.

Abstract

Given the crucial role of eyewitness evidence, statements should be obtained as soon as possible after an incident. This is not always achieved due to demands on police resources. Two studies trace the development of a new tool, the Self-Administered Interview (SAI), designed to elicit a comprehensive initial statement. In Study 1, SAI participants reported more correct details than participants who provided a free recall account, and performed at the same level as participants given a Cognitive Interview. In Study 2, participants viewed a simulated crime and half recorded their statement using the SAI. After a delay of 1 week, all participants completed a free recall test. SAI participants recalled more correct details in the delayed recall task than control participants.

Remembering remotely: would video-mediation impair witnesses' memory reports?

“…As such we propose that when circumstances make it difficult to conduct timely interviews with witnesses, videoconferencing might offer a valuable addition to the investigator's 'toolkit' alongside other effective innovations such as the Self-Administered Interview (Gabbert et al, 2009). Each of these innovations could be more or less beneficial to a case depending on specific case characteristics.…”

“…However, despite being equipped with effective interviewing techniques, one serious problem for investigators is that several days or even weeks often pass before witnesses can be interviewed (Fisher, 2010;Gabbert, Hope, & Fisher, 2009). …”

“…Notably, Gabbert et al (2009) recently developed a Self-Administered Interview tool for witnesses to complete independently-soon after the crime occurs-as a means for stabilizing their memories in preparation for a formal interview at a later date. These authors have shown that an early opportunity for eyewitnesses to rehearse and document their memories substantially improves performance in a later interview, and more recent studies provide further support for this finding (Hope, Gabbert, & Fisher, 2011;Roos af Hjelmsäter, Strömwall, & Granhag, 2012).…”

“…The transcripts were scored by the first author blind to condition, by counting the number of correct and incorrect details reported by each participant as in Gabbert et al (2009). For example, the movie began with a long-haired man.…”

Enhancing older adults’ eyewitness memory for present and future events with the Self-Administered Interview.

“…A novel investigative interviewing tool which has been shown to enhance eyewitness accounts to a similar degree as the CI is the Self-administered interview © (SAI) (Gabbert, Hope, & Fisher, 2009). The SAI is a self-report version of the CI and provides the witness with cues and instructions to facilitate recall.…”