Bilateral Australia: Interviewing eyewitnesses: Enhancing output quantity and diagnosing accuracy

Lead Research Organisation: University of Portsmouth
Department Name: Psychology

Abstract

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Description The overarching aim of the research programme was to produce a novel approach to optimising eyewitness recall grounded in recent theory-driven advances in memory and metacognitive research. Specifically, we sought to develop a technique to (a) increase the quantity of information reported and (b) facilitate the use of diagnostic measures (such as confidence) to evaluate accuracy. All key objectives have been met and, indeed, exceeded. Our work has achieved a number of important scientific impacts. Firstly, drawing on Koriat and Goldsmith's (1996) model of strategic monitoring and control, we have, across five studies in the UK and five studies in Australia, produced a novel closed (non-leading) question approach that not only elicits significantly more information from witnesses than free recall or a form of the Cognitive Interview but also facilitates the use of their metacognitive assessments to diagnose the accuracy of information provided. Secondly, experiments have examined the impact of variables including delay to interview, repeated interviews, exposure to misinformation and response option on output. Thirdly, we have developed an instruction set that produces significantly more coarse grain information without a concomitant cost to accuracy. Specifically, we have identified a way of eliciting information from witnesses that is (a) often forensically relevant and (b) not reported in the traditional open interviewing formats. In terms of scientific impact these findings, adopting methodological innovations, advance empirical understanding of witness memory reporting and have generated new lines of research including an exploration of variables contributing to witnesses' reluctance to report coarse grained information.
Exploitation Route In summary, our work has potential for use in the following non-academic contexts:

Policy-Makers/Police Practitioners: Although it is somewhat early to have achieved significant impact at this level at this stage of a new development, there have been positive signs and certainly the work has informed more recent research on policy issues (e.g. Hope et al., under review).

Furthermore, we anticipate greater impact over the next few years when both projects have completed and the refereed journal publications emerge from the research.

Societal Level: Obtaining good quality, reliable evidence is vital for the investigation process, the pursuit of justice, and preventing miscarriages of justice. High quality psychology research can make a significant contribution to the quality and range of empirically-based techniques available to investigators. By working closely with investigative practitioners, we have been able to identify deficits in current tools and techniques and then devise and test novel alternative solutions based on robust memory theory. Evidence-based techniques serve to improve the evidence and experience of witnesses and victims. Close collaboration between the police and researchers supports the work of the criminal justice system.

Other End-Users: Investigators in other settings (e.g. health and safety, industrial investigations) may, in due course, come to benefit from the techniques initiated in the current research.

We expect to continue our work on the Grain-Size procedure to continue for several years to come as opportunities for use and future development of the technique continue to present themselves. Although still in the early stages, the current research has extended the range of empirically tested techniques available to professional investigators. In brief, we successfully tested a novel procedure for eliciting information from witnesses and devised innovative instructions for extracting significantly more coarse grain details (see End of Award Report). To secure applied impact, we have prepared a Research Briefing Note for practitioners to disseminate our initial findings (see Research Catalogue). This briefing has been circulated to forces we collaborate with closely (Greater Manchester Police, Metropolitan Police). Circulating information about new techniques at this early stage will enable us to respond to practitioner feedback before progressing with further laboratory testing.
Sectors Government, Democracy and Justice,Security and Diplomacy
URL http://www.selfadministeredinterview.com/news/research-briefing-about-initial-findings-from-new-interview-project/
 
Description The development, testing and validation of novel techniques are time-consuming but crucial. Laboratory testing, cross-laboratory validation, and systematic adaptation are only the very first steps in a long and slow process of application to real-world contexts. Although still in the early stages, the current research has extended the range of empirically tested techniques available to professional investigators. In brief, we successfully tested a novel procedure for eliciting information from witnesses and devised innovative instructions for extracting significantly more coarse grain details. To secure applied impact, we have prepared a Research Briefing Note for practitioners to disseminate our initial findings. This briefing has been circulated to forces we collaborate with closely (Greater Manchester Police, Metropolitan Police). Circulating information about new techniques enables us to respond to practitioner feedback before progressing with further laboratory testing. More recently we have introduced concepts and methods emerging from this initial work to other stakeholders (e.g. in security/intelligence gathering). A second important impact is that as a result of recent investigative interviewing research (including the current project) the UK PI and CI have been appointed as Visiting Researchers in conjunction with Interview Advisors (Major Incident Team) at Greater Manchester Police. These appointments represent a significant opportunity to secure the impact of our research in future. Furthermore, all members of the research team present regularly to professional development meetings of judges, magistrates, police and lawyers on the topic of eyewitness evidence and incorporate these research findings in such sessions. The current research represents the early stage proof-of-concept testing of a novel approach to questioning. In terms of preliminary knowledge exchange, the Research Briefing Note provides practitioners with (i) an overview of the practical problem; (ii) a summary of recent psychological theory which might inform potential solutions;(iii) a summary of the findings and (iv) tentative suggestions as to how both the research might inform good investigative interviewing practice. Although the document is freely available via our website for any interested parties, we have only circulated it directly to interview specialists and investigators with whom we have close working relationships at UK forces. At this early stage, these knowledge-transfer activities need to proceed carefully given the nature of the topic. The notion of closed questions is somewhat antithetical to current practice (largely due to misuse) - therefore, it will be important to ensure that potential users of the novel technique are fully briefed. We have already begun work on this by introducing terms to reflect some important distinctions (e.g. fine-grain, coarse-grain, meta-cognition) during practitioner-oriented dissemination activities to date. In the academic domain, the results of the research have been of interest to two largely independent groups of researchers; (a) those with an interest in metacognition and the role of metacognitive markers (such as confidence) on memorial output and (b) those with a more applied interest in investigative interviewing. Numerous research projects undertaken since the completion of the funding period have been informed by experimental designs, stimuli and methodologies devised in the course of the research programme across all three laboratories (PI Hope, CI Gabbert, & CI Brewer), including the work of several PhD students. We expect the lines of research opened in the course of the research programme to continue to develop and extend the impact of the original work.
First Year Of Impact 2012
Sector Government, Democracy and Justice,Security and Diplomacy
Impact Types Policy & public services
 
Description GMP 
Organisation Greater Manchester Police
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution As a result of investigative interviewing research (including the current project) the UK PI and CI were appointed as Visiting Researchers in conjunction with Interview Advisors (Major Incident Team) at Greater Manchester Police. These appointments represent a significant opportunity to secure the impact of our research in future.
Collaborator Contribution Appointed us as active Visiting Researchers with the GMP force.
Impact Collaborations with these end-user partners have facilitated knowledge transfer (in both directions) and informed subsequent research and outputs specifically focused on informing policy and practice e.g. Hope, L., & Gabbert, F. (October, 2013). Obtaining witness evidence using the Self-Administered Interview: Use in the field, efficiency and effectiveness. Report for the College of Policing, UK. Gabbert, F. & Hope, L. (October, 2011). Field Trials of the Self-Administered Interview. Report for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
Start Year 2009
 
Description Metacognition : where next? 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Invited Presentation: Increasing output quantity and diagnosing accuracy using the Grain Size technique. Extended discussions after the presentation and through the course of the workshop relating to how to extend the work.

This work has generated interest in this line of research between/across labs. Notably, I have had many students (at UG and PG level) begin to engage with the ideas expressed in this workshop (one of these students is now my PhD student).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2010