ID-Lies conducts Cognitive-Analytic Interviews of persons to obtain accurate and detailed information. Cognitive-Analytic Interviews incorporate analysis and credibility assessment techniques used in Forensic Statement Analysis, Cognitive Interviewing, and Conversation Management Interviewing.
Cognitive-Analytic Interviews are applicable in many types of cases: criminal, civil, accident, work-place disputes, employee theft, sexual harassment allegations, sexual disclosure history, infidelity allegations, etc. Cognitive-Analytic Interviews can also be incorporated into the Pre-Test Phase of a polygraph examination.
The CAI process involves the interviewee providing a free narrative statement regarding the incident in question. This statement is used as the foundation for conducting the CAI. The Interviewer/Analyst then asks a series of open-ended, non-leading questions, incorporating memory enhancement cues to assist the interviewee to recall more detailed information. Depending on the subject matter or goal of the interview, a series of structured questions may also be asked. The CAI is similar to when persons have a “conversation”, instead of adversarial or confrontational tactics used during other interview formats.
As the interview progresses, the Interviewer/Analyst applies the principles of Forensic Statement Analysis and Cognitive Interviewing to evaluate the credibility of the Interviewee’s assertions and answers to questions. If inconsistent or contradictory information is determined, the Interviewer/Analyst continues to probe for more detailed information to attempt to resolve issues, asking the interviewee to explain his or her previous assertions.
(Cognitive Interviewing was developed in the 1980’s by Forensic Psychologists R. Edward Geiselman and Ronald P. Fisher after years of research in academic and real-world scenarios involving victims and witnesses to violent crimes. Its principles are now applied for use during interviews in a wide range of situations. For more information, please see this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_interview.)
The Cognitive-Analytic Interview is video and audio recorded.
After the interview is completed, it is reviewed by the Interviewer/Analyst. The interview can then be transcribed. A second Forensic Statement Analysis is conducted on the accumulated verbal data.
The Interviewer/Analyst then provides a detailed written report to the client, highlighting any areas of the Interviewee’s statement reflecting inconsistent or contradictory information and unresolved issues, if they exist.
Information that can be determined during the CAI can include, but is not limited to:
- Deception, if it exists.
- Missing time, actions, and events
- Relationships between persons
- Suppressed incident-related knowledge
- More detailed information as to events, actions, persons involved.
- Clearer detailed information as to events, actions, behaviors of persons involved
- Clearer descriptions of persons, objects, locations
- Emotions and thoughts experienced by the interviewee at the time of the incident
- Inadvertent admissions of guilty persons
- Disclosures of offense-related knowledge