Overview for the Efficacy of Eyewitness Interviews Project
Project objectives
This research project allows agencies to measure the effectiveness of interview practitioners to retrieve cognitive evidence from eyewitness interviews, and begin to establish an evidence-based investigative interview framework. The efficacy of eyewitness interviews project (EEIP) is focused on providing law enforcement agencies a cross-sectional study that measures the judgments made by their interview practitioners, in gathering reliable cognitive evidence. Phase 1 analyzes survey results while phase 2 analyzes interview transcripts.
Phase 1 asks members of the agency to complete two anonymous survey questionnaires that analyze the level of experience related to interviewing eyewitnesses, and examines the question choices they make in affecting the reliability of cognitive evidence collected.
1A analyzes the data collected and generates a preliminary report of findings.
1B prepares interview practitioners for instruction about the Mindful Interview Method (MIM).
1C measures the mindset of interviewers after MIM instruction (survey ).
1D generates a final report about the training, implementation and evaluation of the program.
Phase 2 collaborates with the agency to obtain anonymized transcripts of eyewitness interviews to define cognitive evidence collection tendencies of their interview practitioners under field conditions.
1A analyzes the data collected and generates a preliminary report of findings.
1B prepares interview practitioners for instruction about the Mindful Interview Method (MIM).
1C measures the mindset of interviewers after MIM instruction (survey ).
1D generates a final report about the training, implementation and evaluation of the program.
Analysis and assessment of Cognitive Evidence collection via survey instruments
Projected Study Timelines Phase 1
Identify study participants (30 days).
Participants complete Participant Form
Participants complete both surveys (30 days).
Analyze data collected from surveys (30 - 45 days)
Preliminary report on survey results is completed.
Development of MIM workshop for interview practitioners
In-person 3 - 5 day workshop
Post-MIM training survey.
Complete final executive report with findings and recommendations.
Analysis and Assessment of Cognitive Evidence Collection via interview transcript analysis
Projected Study Timelines Phase 2
Identify study participants, and randomly assign participants into groups for reliability of cognitive evidence audit - MIM and non-MIM (within 30 days).
All participants complete Participant Form.
All participants will be asked to conduct eyewitness interviews during their normal shifts (180 days).
CEC receives pre-MIM instruction eyewitness interviews in digital or audio format from participants; Agency determines de-identification process.
Analysis and assessment of field interview transcripts (within 30 - 45 days).
MIM participants randomly assigned by the agency to attend Mindful Interview Method workshop after 180 days of field interviews (within 14 days).
All participants complete EEIP surveys; analyze data collected from surveys (within 45 days).
Participants attend MIM workshop for instruction (3 or 5 days).
All participants are asked to conduct eyewitness interviews during their normal shift after attending MIM workshop (60 days).
Analysis and assessment of interview transcripts, post MIM instruction (within 45 days).
Complete executive report with findings and recommendations (30 days)
For more information about the examination of reliable cognitive evidence, email: erce-programs@mindfulinterviews.com