Written Records Quality of a Mock Witness Statement: Effects of Verbal Memory Ability, Note Taking Style and Note Taking Option

Abstract

ABSTRACT Precise documentation of criminal proceedings is essential for evidence-based legal investigation. Unfortunately, in several countries there is no obligation to document interrogations electronically. Investigators often take notes to reconstruct the witness statement for protocol writing. This study investigated individual differences in the quality of written records of a mock witness statement in a 2 (Note Taking Style) x 2 (Note Taking Option) pseudorandomized between-subjects design. A part of the participants wrote their records verbatim (e.g., in full sentences without any abbreviations), while the other part wrote their records without any style instruction. In addition, half of the participants took notes every 6 minutes during the video, while the other half took notes after the video. Contrary to hypothesis 1, we did not observe a significant difference for note taking style in the record quality. Consistent with hypothesis 2, participants who took notes every 6 minutes during the video reproduced more correct details than participants who took notes after the video. In accordance with hypothesis 3, higher verbal memory ability was related to a superior reproduction of correct details. Conclusively, higher verbal working memory ability in conjunction with an intermittent note taking style is advantageous for taking protocols.