Investigative Interviews Research Articles

Cultural Similarities and Differences in Judgments of Rapport

Rapport is a fundamental building block of human relationships across cultures; yet, there is still a dearth of systematic, cross-cultural research on this important topic. This study contributes to a small but growing literature on the nature of rapport across cultures by examining judgments of rapport by observers from different culture/language groups of interactions involving investigative interviews conducted in different languages. Observers from four culture/language groups (English, Spanish, Arabic, and French) rated rapport in nine video clips consisting of three interview languages (English, Spanish, and French) and three segments within each interview. Findings demonstrated that rapport judgments reduced to a bidimensional model of positivity and negativity across the observer culture/language groups; that considerable cultural similarities in rapport judgments existed across the ebb and flow of the interviews; and that there were some possible cultural differences in rapport judgments and the constructs contributing to those judgments, notably French observers’ judgments of mutual respect and seriousness. These findings suggested both major similarities and potential differences in judgments of rapport across cultures.

Establishing Common Ground Using Low Technology Communication Aids in Intermediary Mediated Police Investigative Interviews of Witnesses with an Intellectual Disability

Establishing Common Ground Using Low Technology Communication Aids in Intermediary Mediated Police Investigative Interviews of Witnesses with an Intellectual Disability

The Use and Productivity of Visual Aids as Retrieval Support in Police Interviews of Preschool-Aged Victims of Abuse

Professional use of external retrieval cues, such as various types of visual aids, has been utilized in investigative interviews of children for decades based on the assumption that aids can facilitate children’s recollection of abusive incidents. Although analog studies and surveys have provided insight into various aspects of visual aid utilization, there is a scarcity of field studies that addresses the use of visual aids in large samples of authentic investigative interviews of preschool-aged children. In the present study, the use and productivity of visual aids were examined in 140 investigative interviews of 3- to 6-year-old children, all of whom disclosed abuse in cases that progressed to prosecution. The exploratory analyses focused on the overall use of visual aids, the types of questions posed along with visual aids when the interviewer directly asks questions regarding the investigated incident(s), and the extent to which the children provided forensically relevant information in response to questions used along with visual aids. It was found that visual aids were utilized to elicit information regarding the investigated incident(s) in 92% (n = 129) of the interviews, with emotion cards and drawing materials being the most common aids used. The highest proportion of questions asked alongside visual aids were directive (41.6%) and option-posing (37.3%) questions, followed by suggestive questions (17.9%), and a rather low proportion of open-ended invitations (3.2%). In addition to visual aids, open-ended invitations elicited the most forensically relevant information from the interviewees. The need for standardized guidelines and specialized training for the use of visual aids in investigative interviews of young children is discussed.

The suspect's statement in interaction: Responding to ‘formulations’ in the investigative interview

This study explores suspects' responses to ‘formulations’ – retellings by police officers of what the suspect has said – in investigative interviews. It involves a data set of 73 audio recordings of interviews with suspects in Norway. Police investigators regularly ‘formulate’ the gist of the suspect's statement, preserving what is relevant and transforming a lay narrative into one that is legally adequate. This study focuses on response preference and forms of resistance in suspects' responses to such formulations. When police officers propose a formulation of what has been said, suspects may either confirm or disconfirm it, or do neither. The analysis shows that (1) preferred responses may take form either as minimal yes responses or repetitional responses, which confirm the candidate understanding; and (2) non-preferred responses come in two formats: as active resistance in that they explicitly reject or challenge a formulation, or as passive resistance which withholds acceptance, leading police officers to pursue an answer and seek for confirmation. By focusing on the way in which formulations function in interaction and how suspects may challenge them, the analysis explores how suspects may assert their right to ‘own’ and retain control over their story and how it is developed and transformed during the interview.

Recovered memories of trauma as a special (or not so special) form of involuntary autobiographical memories.

Recovered memories of trauma are memories of traumatic events experienced generally during childhood, but of which the persons were unaware until they retrieved it. Legal decisions are sometimes based on such recovered memories, the validity of which is often questioned. Yet, people can recover genuine traumatic memories of childhood abuse. In this paper, we present and further discuss the idea that recovered traumatic memories can be interpreted in the context of the autobiographical memory framework. Specifically, we argue that recovered memories may be accessed after exposure to incidental cues that initiate unexpected spontaneous memory retrieval. Thus, we relate the recovered memory phenomenon to involuntary autobiographical memories and argue that it is an example of highly stressful, emotionally negative, and intense involuntary memories that were yet never recalled. This novel, evidence-based perspective leads us to reconsider the examination of the validity of eyewitness testimony as a continuum ranging from the least valid form (i.e., memories recovered in highly suggestive context facilitating its factitious reconstruction) to the most valid form (i.e., memories that were triggered by cues without any person's voluntary engagement), and this in relation with how internal (e.g., age and internal cue) or external (e.g., suggestion in therapy, suggestion during investigative interview, and contextual cue) factors may influence memory retrieval. Finally, we propose several recommendations for experts that may be useful in assessing the validity of a testimony based on recovered memories.

Features of structure and types in the traditional headdress of Chinese Orochons

The object of the study is the cap of the Chinese Orochon tradition. The subject of the study is the head decoration of Chinese orochons made of goat skin. The article discusses the main types of caps and their structural features and production technology. Orochons make a special headdress from the head skin of a roe deer, which demonstrates the gender and status of the person wearing this decoration. The Orochon hat belongs to traditional Chinese clothing and serves as one of the indicators of this nation. Against the background of globalization, the culture and aesthetic thinking of Orochon art provide rich ideological sources and practical directions for the development of aesthetics and art of the world. The purpose of the study is the characteristics of traditional Orochon headdresses, the symbolic meaning of headdresses and the importance of animal skin headdresses. This article uses such research methods as the method of literature analysis, the method of investigation and research documentary interview and examines the art of Orochon head ornaments. Thus, we can lead to the following conclusion: the traditional Orochon head decoration is an important component of the Chinese and world culture of the art of head jewelry. Orochon head jewelry in its long history of development has acquired an elegant and attractive appearance and exquisite workmanship. Chinese researchers pay more attention to the aesthetic and ethnological studies of these products, which has created great theoretical value for us and provides a strong reference basis. The novelty of the article lies in the distribution of symbolic meanings and artistic features of Orochon head ornaments, in particular, their hats. The history of their development and cultural connotation are systematically analyzed, the description and communication of artistic features and symbolic meanings are carried out.

Retracted: Responding to reticence in investigative interviews of alleged victims with a mental illness: Maintaining rapport

Retracted: Responding to reticence in investigative interviews of alleged victims with a mental illness: Maintaining rapport

‘I inevitably get in trouble … in one way or another’: Qualitative exploration of the vulnerabilities and experiences of justice system encountered individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

BackgroundIn comparison to the neurotypical population, individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are over-represented in the criminal justice system (CJS). This study explores the perspectives of a small sample of individuals with FASD regarding the factors that predispose them to encounters with the CJS, and their experiences during investigative interviews. MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with ten individuals with FASD, aged between 12 and 46 years old (mean age 20.1 years). Interviews were a combination of remote audio-recorded, video-recorded, and face-to-face interviews administered by parents/carers. NVivo was used to collate, organise, and explore data. Data were analysed by reflexive thematic analysis. ResultsThree over-arching themes were generated from seven sub-themes: “personality/individual triggers to CJS encounters” which described vulnerabilities, such as a tendency to be impulsive and to accept suggestions, “encounters ‘fuelled’ by society” where examples of exploitation, police's aggressive approach and lack of knowledge were given. The final theme of “sense of self-awareness” demonstrated that participants had a sense of appreciation of their strengths and abilities. ConclusionIndividuals with FASD are highly vulnerable to, and within, encounters with the CJS. Procedural justice will benefit by employing alternative methods in dealing with situations where individuals with FASD may be involved, and in obtaining information via interviews from the FASD population.

Enhancing investigative interview training using a child avatar system: a comparative study of interactive environments

The impact of investigative interviews by police and Child Protective Services (CPS) on abused children can be profound, making effective training vital. Quality in these interviews often falls short and current training programs are insufficient in enabling adherence to best practice. We present a system for simulating an interactive environment with alleged abuse victims using a child avatar. The purpose of the system is to improve the quality of investigative interviewing by providing a realistic and engaging training experience for police and CPS personnel. We conducted a user study to assess the efficacy of four interactive platforms: VR, 2D desktop, audio, and text chat. CPS workers and child welfare students rated the quality of experience (QoE), realism, responsiveness, immersion, and flow. We also evaluated perceived learning impact, engagement in learning, self-efficacy, and alignment with best practice guidelines. Our findings indicate VR as superior in four out of five quality aspects, with 66% participants favoring it for immersive, realistic training. Quality of questions posed is crucial to these interviews. Distinguishing between appropriate and inappropriate questions, we achieved 87% balanced accuracy in providing effective feedback using our question classification model. Furthermore, CPS professionals demonstrated superior interview quality compared to non-professionals, independent of the platform.

The Role of Knowledge Management Process in the Valorization of the Knowledge Within an Algerian Society / Case of the Center for Technological Studies and Services of the Building Materials Industry, by Abbreviation CETIM, Subsidiaries of the GICA group

This article deals with one of the managerial devices necessary for the valorization of the knowledge available to a company in order to create a strategic advantage. Through a qualitative research by single case study, our primary objective was to verify the existence and functioning of knowledge management process for the valorization of knowledge within the Center for Studies and Technology Services of the Building Materials Industry. (CETIM) Subsidiary of the Groupe Industriel des Ciments d'Algérie (GICA), then to demonstrate how it allows the transfer of knowledge from the CETIM to the subsidiaries of the same Group and consequently, obtaining a strategic advantage from knowledge transferred. Through the analysis of data collected, since the period from 2020 to 2022, in the field from two (02) methods of investigation (observation and interviews), the results showed that in addition to the managerial devices included in the literature review and set out in the conceptual framework, other operational mechanisms involved in the valorization of knowledge have been identified in the field.

Factors associated with delayed disclosure of child sexual abuse: A focus on the victim's having been led to perform sexual acts on the perpetrator

BackgroundContextual variables associated with children's willingness to disclose sexual abuse have been identified in previous studies, but further investigation is needed to better understand delayed disclosure of child sexual abuse (CSA). ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the factors associated with the risk of delayed disclosure of CSA. More specifically, it focused on a factor that has rarely, if ever, been looked into: the fact that some victims are led to perform sexual acts on the perpetrator. Participants and settingA content analysis was performed on 68 transcripts of investigative interviews with CSA victims aged 4 to 12 years old. MethodsBased on our content analysis, the time between the first abuse and the first disclosure was determined for each victim. The age and gender of the victim, the victim's relationship with the perpetrator, the age of the perpetrator, the frequency and severity of the abuse, and whether or not the victim mentioned having performed sexual acts on the perpetrator were also coded. ResultsChi-square analyses showed that the risk of delayed disclosure was associated with the victim's having performed, or not performed, sexual acts on the perpetrator (χ2 = 16.327, p < 0.001), the victim's relationship with the perpetrator (χ2 = 10.013, p = 0.002), and the frequency of the abuse (χ2 = 11.617, p < 0.001). ConclusionOur study is the first to demonstrate that having been led to sexually touch the perpetrator is associated with delayed disclosure of CSA.

성폭력 피해 의심 아동 조사 시 NICHD 수사적 면담 프로토콜의 실질적 단계 이행 실태

TThe aim of this study was to investigate whether the substantive interview phase of the NICHD investigative interview protocol was properly implemented in the forensic interview of alleged child sexual abuse. To this end, 30 transcript of children aged 5 to 15 years who were independently interviewed by police officer and the interview expert were analyzed. As a result, the difference between the groups in the amount of questions and details was not significant. The police group used direct questions, option-posing, and suggestive questions significantly more than the expert group. The children reported significantly more information through suggestive questions in police officer interview, but significantly more information through invitations in expert interview. The expert group mainly used invitations in the beginning, gradually increasing the amount of direct questions, but still frequently used invitations and facilitation until the end. In contrast, the police group frequently used direct questions from the beginning, gradually increasing the amount, and rarely used invitations and facilitation toward the end.

“For the Record”: applying linguistics to improve evidential consistency in police investigative interview records

The “For the Record” project (FTR) is a collaboration between a team of linguistic researchers and police in the England &amp;amp; Wales jurisdiction (E&amp;amp;W). The aim of the project is to apply insights from linguistics to improve evidential consistency in police interview transcripts, which are routinely produced by transcribers employed by the police. The research described in this short report is intended as a pilot study, before extension nationally. For this part of the project, we analysed several types of data, including interview audio and transcripts provided by one force. This identified key areas where current transcription practise could be improved and enhanced, and a series of recommendations were made to that force. This pilot study indicates that there are three core components of quality transcription production in this context: Consistency, Accuracy, and Neutrality. We propose that the most effective way to address the issues identified is through developing new training and guidance for police interview transcribers.

Police officers' perceptions and experiences of promoting honesty in child victims and witnesses

AbstractPurposeThis two‐phase study employed a mixed‐methods design to explore UK police officers' perceptions and experiences of promoting honesty in child witnesses with a special focus on the recommended inclusion of Truth‐Lies Discussions (TLDs) at the start of interviews with children.MethodIn Phase 1, police officers completed an online survey designed to cover their experiences and perceptions regarding truth‐promotion with child witnesses. In Phase 2, police officers were individually interviewed to elicit an in‐depth understanding of current practice relating to this aspect of investigative interviews with children.ResultsAround half of the survey respondents believed that TLDs promote honesty in children. The majority reported always using TLDs during interviews to ensure compliance with UK best‐practice guidance. There was evidence of a misconception among some police officers that children's performance on TLDs was related to their subsequent truth‐telling behaviour. Following analysis of the interview transcripts, we found a main theme of police officers' uses of TLDs, which included (i) gauging children's conceptual understanding of truths/lies, (ii) ensuring no deviation from guidance and (iii) communicating children's credibility to the court. A second main theme revealed the challenges and obstacles police officers perceived when embarking on TLDs. These were that (i) one type of TLD is not suitable for all children, (ii) the training is insignificant and the application is inappropriate and (iii) participants sometimes use alternative strategies to promote honesty with children.ConclusionPolice officers reported following guidance because a failure to do so would jeopordise children's testimony and provided recommendations for future practice‐informed research designs to test techniques for the promotion of honesty in child witnesses.

A System for Interviewing and Collecting Statements Based on Intent Classification and Named Entity Recognition Using Augmentation

In cases of child sexual abuse, interviewing and obtaining trustworthy statements from victims and witnesses is essential because their statements are the only evidence. It is crucial to ascertain objectively the credibility of the victim’s statements, which may vary based on the nature of the questions posed by the forensic interviewer. Therefore, interview skills that eliminate subjective opinions require a high level of training for forensic interviewers. To reduce high-risk subjective interviews, objectively analyzing statements is essential. Understanding the victim’s intent and named entity recognition (NER) in the statements is necessary to give the victim open-ended questions and memory recall. Therefore, the system provides an intent classification and NER method that follows the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Investigative Interview Protocol, which outlines the collection of objective statements. Large language models such as BERT and KoBERT, along with data augmentation techniques, were proposed using a restricted training dataset of limited size to achieve effective intent classification and NER performance. Additionally, a system that can collect objective statements with the proposed model was developed and it was confirmed that it could assist statement analysts. The verification results showed that the model achieved average F1-scores of 95.5% and 97.8% for intent classification and NER, respectively, which improved the results of the limited data by 3.4% and 3.7%, respectively.

Investigative interviewing with suspects: Exploring current practices among Malaysian police

The interviewing of suspects is a key component in the investigation process. Although a great deal of research on interrogation and interviewing techniques has been conducted in the past, much of this work has been undertaken outside South East Asia. This new study examined Malaysian police officers’ reported rate of use of a large variety of investigative interviewing techniques categorised into six domains: rapport and relationship building, context manipulation, emotion provocation, confrontation/competition, collaboration and presentation of evidence. Eighty-eight police officers primarily from the criminal investigation department, narcotics crime investigation department, commercial crime investigation department, and traffic enforcement and investigation department participated in a pen-and-paper survey. Findings revealed that many police officers in the current study report adopting investigative interviewing techniques that are largely in line with ethical, non-coercive guidelines.

Building Trust to Enhance Elicitation

Drawing on the scientific literature on trust and the experiences of distinguished interviewers, two primary trust-building tactics with potential application in investigative and intelligence interviewing were identified and assessed for their efficacy in this context. Trust-building tactics that demonstrate trustworthiness and demonstrate a willingness to trust portray the interviewer as reliable and dependable (i.e., perceptions of cognitive trust) as well as convey goodwill and warmth (i.e., perceptions of affective trust) were viewed as likely to increase a source’s willingness to disclose critical information. Across three experiments, both tactics were found to be influential in engaging the reciprocity principle in a manner that elicited the sources’ cooperation and enhanced information yield. However, perceptions of cognitive trust were found to function as a direct encouragement to reveal information. In contrast, perceptions of affective trust first facilitated a willingness to cooperate that had the potential for subsequently manifesting as an instrumental form of cooperation.

How multiple interviews and interview framing influence the development and maintenance of rapport

ABSTRACT Information obtained from investigative interviews is crucial for police to develop leads, advance investigations and make effective decisions. One well-endorsed approach for eliciting detailed and accurate information is building rapport between the interviewer and interviewee. While familiarity and communicative tone are predicted determinants of rapport, the effects of repeated exposure to an interviewer, as well as interview framing, on rapport has rarely been tested. In two simulated suspect interview experiments, we tested whether established rapport is maintained during a second interview with the same interviewer (Experiment 1) and how accusatory and humanitarian interview framings impact the development of rapport (Experiment 2). We also tested, across both experiments, whether nonverbal mimicry can be a proxy for measuring rapport. We found evidence suggesting that rapport, once established, is carried over to subsequent meetings, and that it is possible to build rapport even when it was poorly established in the initial interview. We also found that an accusatory interview framing was associated with lower rapport than a humanitarian interview framing, and that interview framing affected nonverbal mimicry between interviewer and interviewee. Contrary to our expectations, mimicry did not correlate with an existing measure of rapport.

“Can I Have a Look?”: The Discursive Management of Victims’ Personal Space During Police First Response Call-Outs to Domestic Abuse Incidents

The complexities of domestic abuse as both a lived experience and a crime generate unique communicative challenges at the scene of emergency police call-outs. Space is a prominent and complex feature of these ecounters, entailing a juxtaposition of the institutional and the private, whereby frontline officers seek evidence of abuse from victims in the same space in which the abuse occurred. This paper explores how speakers manage one evidentially salient aspect of these encounters: officers’ advancement into victim’s immediate personal space to inspect and photograph their injuries. As compared with the attention dedicated to preserving vulnerable victims’ personal ‘bubble’ of space in formal investigative interviews, first response guidelines allow participants more leeway to adapt their behaviour according to the unpredictable demands of each situation. I present two case studies here which form part of a wider study of first response call-outs to domestic abuse incidents reported to a UK police force. The audio data have been extracted from police body-worn video footage and transcribed, with visual information represented intralinearly. Through conversation analysis, I examine the microinteractional means by which personal space is made relevant and consequential to the unfolding talk, with a focus on how ownership rights and control over the space are (re)constructed discursively. Analysis demonstrates that entering victims’ personal space can be managed in ways that either reinforce their disempowered position or afford them some control. The findings have implications in relation to victims’ potential vulnerability, police-victim relations and the nature of the evidence produced.

Effects of Guiding Ground Rules and Individual Differences on the Accuracy of Children’s Free Recall and Suggestibility

ABSTRACT This research examines how the presence or absence of ground rules and children’s temperamental tendencies affect children’s free recall accuracy and suggestibility. Participating children showed richer free recall with open-ended questions and displayed greater resistance to suggestive questions when provided ground rules during the interview. In addition, children’s recall accuracy varied based on their prosocial orientation: the presence or absence of ground rules influenced memory accuracy more in children with a low prosocial orientation than in those with a high prosocial orientation. These results demonstrate the importance of ground rules for obtaining reliable statements from children during investigative interviews. Findings further suggest that children can provide more detailed information when temperamental characteristics (e.g. prosocial tendencies) are considered.