Eyewitness Testimony and Identification

Vocabulary flashcards related to eyewitness testimony, identification protocols, and factors affecting memory recall.

Cognitive Interview

A technique used to enhance the recall of witnesses by allowing for more detailed memories without leading questions.

McGurk Effect

A phenomenon where visual perception can override auditory perception, demonstrating that sight can influence how we interpret sounds.

Spreading Activation

A theory of memory retrieval where related information stored in the brain activates each other's neurons, aiding recall.

False Rejection

A situation where a witness correctly perceives a suspect but claims that they do not recognize them.

Foil Identification

A practice where an innocent person is incorrectly identified as the perpetrator in a lineup.

Instruction Bias

Leading questions posed to a witness that may imply uncertainty, potentially affecting their identification accuracy.

Double Blind Lineups

A lineup procedure where both the officer and the victim do not know who the suspect is, reducing bias.

Biased Lineup

A lineup presentation that may unfairly influence a witness's decision, often due to the arrangement of suspects.

Witness Confidence

The level of certainty a witness expresses about their identification, which is often not a reliable indicator of accuracy.

Target-Absent Lineup

A lineup that does not contain the actual perpetrator, where the witness’s identification may be unreliable.

Show Up Identification

A procedure where a victim is only shown one suspect due to time constraints, which can lead to misidentification.

Lineup Presentation Procedures

Specific methods used for displaying suspects to witnesses during identification tasks.

Estimating Identification Accuracy

Assessing how correct a witness's identification is based on various factors including the method of presentation.

False Memories

Distorted or fabricated recollections of an event that may arise due to suggestive questioning.

Lineup Stack Procedure

An arrangement where individuals are presented top to bottom to mitigate natural leftward gaze tendencies.

Recognition vs Recall

Recall is typically less accurate and more challenging than recognition when identifying a suspect.

Memory Reconsolidation

The process by which memories get re-stored and can potentially change every time they are recalled.

What are the steps of the Cognitive Interview?

The steps include: 1. Establish Rapport

2. Reinstate Context - Encourage the interviewee to recreate the environment of the event.

3. Encourage Detailed Recall - Ask the interviewee to provide as many details as possible without interruption.

4. Use Different Retrieval Techniques - Suggest different perspectives or orders to help recall.

5. Summarize and Clarify - Ensure all information is accurately captured and clarify any ambiguous details.

What are the modified steps of the Cognitive Interview?

The modified steps include:

1. Establish Rapport - Build trust and make the interviewee feel safe.

2. Focused Retrieval - Use open-ended questions to position the recall process.

3. Encourage Extensive Recall - Prompt the interviewee to share all details, focusing on sensory information.

4. Optional Cognitive Techniques - Introduce techniques like the 'memory probe' to help stimulate recall.

5. Check for Accuracy - Review the details provided for consistency and completeness.

What is the main difference between the Modified Cognitive Interview and the Cognitive Interview?

The Modified Cognitive Interview focuses more on the interviewee's comfort and using strategic questioning techniques, while the traditional Cognitive Interview emphasizes detailed recall through specific retrieval techniques. The modified version may also incorporate flexibility in techniques based on the interviewee's needs.

What are the key components of the Modified Cognitive Interview?

The key components include establishing rapport, focused retrieval with open-ended questions, encouraging extensive recall focusing on sensory details, optional cognitive techniques like memory probes, and checking for accuracy.

What are the key components of the standard Cognitive Interview?

The key components include establishing rapport, reinstating context, encouraging detailed recall without interruptions, using different retrieval techniques, and summarizing and clarifying information.

What is Free Recall in recall protocols?

Free Recall involves encouraging the eyewitness to recount everything they remember about an event without any prompts. This method can yield spontaneous information but tends to be less structured.

What is Cued Recall?

Cued Recall provides specific cues or prompts to help the eyewitness retrieve targeted information. This technique can enhance detail in the recall but may introduce suggestive influences.

What is Recognition in the context of recall protocols?

Recognition involves presenting the eyewitness with options, such as lineups or photo arrays, to identify familiar individuals or details. This method relies on their ability to discern previously encountered stimuli.

What are Structured Interviews?

Structured Interviews use a standardized approach with a series of guided questions. This method ensures comprehensive coverage of the incident while minimizing the risk of leading questions.

What is the Cognitive Interview?

The Cognitive Interview is a detailed, multi-step method that encourages contextual and emotional recall by integrating techniques such as reinstating the environment and fostering the reporting of all details.