Cognitive Interview Conducted In-Person and Over-the-Phone For Informants' Memory of Overheard Conversations

A laboratory simulation study compared the Cognitive Interview to the standard police interview for informants’ memories of a conversation. The interviews were conducted live or on the telephone. The Cognitive Interview elicited 61% more relevant details than the standard interview. There was no difference between interviews conducted in-person versus on the telephone. The results suggest that the Cognitive Interview will be a beneficial tool for eliciting details about overheard conversations. Furthermore, information will not be lost if the interview is conducted over the telephone.