Rapport building and witness memory: Actions may ‘speak’ louder than words

Abstract

Building rapport during police interviews is argued as important for improving on the completeness and accuracy of information provided by witnesses and victims. However, little experimental research has clearly operationalised rapport and investigated the impact of rapport behaviours on episodic memory. Eighty adults watched a video of a mock crime event and 24-hours later were randomly allocated to an interview condition where verbal and/or behavioural (non-verbal) rapport techniques were manipulated. Memorial performance measures revealed significantly more correct information, without a concomitant increase in errors, was elicited when behavioural rapport was present, a superiority effect found in both the free and probed recall phase of interviews. The presence of verbal rapport was found to reduce recall accuracy in the free recall phase of interviews. Post-interview feedback revealed significant multivariate effects for the presence of behavioural (only) rapport and combined (behavioural + verbal) rapport. Participants rated their interview experience far more positively when these types of rapport were present compared to when verbal (only) rapport or no rapport was present. These findings add weight to the importance of rapport in supporting eyewitness cognition, highlighting the potential consequences of impoverished social behaviours for building rapport during dyadic interactions, suggesting ‘doing’ rather than simply ‘saying’ may be more beneficial.

Interviewing in virtual environments: Towards understanding the impact of rapport-building behaviours and retrieval context on eyewitness memory

“…Rapport-building, also referred to as prosocial behaviour or supportive/attentive behaviour, is believed to be important for relieving some of the social demands of an interview (e.g., Kieckhaefer et al, 2014 ; Nahouli et al, 2021 ; Roberts et al, 2004 ; Webster et al, 2021 ), potentially increasing cognitive capacity for remembering (Dando et al, 2016 ; Fisher & Gieselman, 1992 ; Milne & Bull, 2016 ; Nahouil et al, 2021 ; Webster et al, 2021 ). Comfortable witnesses may well be better placed to devote finite cognitive resources to complex cognitions, here recalling episodic experiences (e.g., Fiske & Taylor, 2013 ; Frith & Frith, 2012 ; Gallese et al, 2004 ).…”

“…Despite varying operationalisations of rapport-building, there is consensus that some rapport-building behaviour is better than none for positive outcomes (e.g., College of Policing, 2018 ; Gabbert et al, 2021 ; Ministry of Justice, 2022 ; Milne & Bull, 1999 ; Nahouli et al, 2021 ; Nash et al, 2014 ; Nash et al, 2016 ; Walsh & Bull, 2012 ), although experimental research findings are mixed. Some research indicates witnesses can provide more complete and accurate accounts when rapport-building behaviours are present (e.g., R. Collins et al, 2002 ; Holmberg & Madsen, 2014 ; Nahouli et al, 2021 ; Nash et al, 2016 ; Vallano & Shreiber Compo, 2011 ; Novotny et al, 2021 ), but this is not always the case (see Kieckhaefer et al, 2014 ; Sauerland et al, 2018 ). For example, verbal rapport-building (unaccompanied by appropriate behaviours) has been found to increase information yield (e.g., Novotny et al, 2021 ), whereas some have reported that verbal behaviour alone is less effective (e.g., Nahouli et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Some research indicates witnesses can provide more complete and accurate accounts when rapport-building behaviours are present (e.g., R. Collins et al, 2002 ; Holmberg & Madsen, 2014 ; Nahouli et al, 2021 ; Nash et al, 2016 ; Vallano & Shreiber Compo, 2011 ; Novotny et al, 2021 ), but this is not always the case (see Kieckhaefer et al, 2014 ; Sauerland et al, 2018 ). For example, verbal rapport-building (unaccompanied by appropriate behaviours) has been found to increase information yield (e.g., Novotny et al, 2021 ), whereas some have reported that verbal behaviour alone is less effective (e.g., Nahouli et al, 2021 ). In a similar vein, extensive rapport-building (comprising both verbal and behavioural techniques), has been reported to improve recall performance (e.g., Collins et al, 2002 ; Kieckhaefer et al, 2014 ; Nahouli et al, 2021 ), while others have reported no positive impact (e.g., Meissner et al, 2015 ; Sauerland et al, 2018 ).…”

“…For example, verbal rapport-building (unaccompanied by appropriate behaviours) has been found to increase information yield (e.g., Novotny et al, 2021 ), whereas some have reported that verbal behaviour alone is less effective (e.g., Nahouli et al, 2021 ). In a similar vein, extensive rapport-building (comprising both verbal and behavioural techniques), has been reported to improve recall performance (e.g., Collins et al, 2002 ; Kieckhaefer et al, 2014 ; Nahouli et al, 2021 ), while others have reported no positive impact (e.g., Meissner et al, 2015 ; Sauerland et al, 2018 ). A recent review of the use of rapport by professionals during interviews with witnesses and suspected offenders/persons of interest has indicated that some form of rapport does improve outcomes in the majority of cases reviewed (Gabbert et al, 2021 ).…”

“…In Taylor and Dando’s ( 2018 ) study a formal rapport-building phase was not included, although an informal and friendly conversation did take place prior to the start of the retrieval interview, during which the interviewer used positive nonverbal behaviours (e.g., eye contact, nodding). These behaviours are argued as being key rapport-building techniques (see Abbe & Brandon, 2014 ) and studies have found them effective (e.g., Collins et al, 2002 ; Holmberg & Madsen, 2014 ; Nahouli et al, 2021 ; Vallano et al, 2011 ; see Gabbert et al, 2021 , for a review). However, these behaviours were common to all conditions, hence rapport was not manipulated nor was it the focus of the research.…”