Testing a digital self‐interview approach: The virtual memory assistance tool

Abstract

Technology‐mediated interviews are a promising supplement to in‐person interviews for questioning eyewitnesses. We sought to develop and test a virtual self‐administered memory‐elicitation procedure—The virtual memory assistance tool (VMAT). The VMAT is a web‐based memory retrieval tool designed around the principles of the Cognitive Interview. In Experiments 1 and 2, participants (N = 135, N = 127) watched a target video and then received either VMAT or Control instructions, reporting their memory either by Typing into a textbox or Speaking into their device's microphone. In Experiments 3 and 4, participants (N = 89, N = 78) watched a target video and then received either VMAT or Control instructions presented in either Audio or Video format. Our findings suggest that a virtual tool for memory elicitation seems effective independent of Interview Procedures, Response Modalities, and Instruction Modalities and across differing target stimuli (mock‐crime vs. content of a sexual nature).