Eyewitness memory for person, object and action information is mediated by interview environment and the presence or absence of rapport

Taylor, D.A. and Dando, C.J. 2024. Eyewitness memory for person, object and action information is mediated by interview environment and the presence or absence of rapport. Journal of Criminal Psychology. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-07-2024-0057

TitleEyewitness memory for person, object and action information is mediated by interview environment and the presence or absence of rapport
TypeJournal article
AuthorsTaylor, D.A. and Dando, C.J.
Abstract

Purpose
Obtaining accurate and reliable information from witnesses and victims of crime is essential for guiding criminal investigations and for the successful prosecution of offenders and beyond. Here, the purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of prosocial rapport behaviours and retrieval environment on mock eyewitness memory with an emphasis on the qualitative nature of information recalled in terms of persons, actions, objects and surroundings.

Design/methodology/approach
One hundred participants from the general population took part in mock witness research using a 2 (Environment: face-to-face; virtual) × 2 (Rapport: present; absent) design. Participants individually viewed an event depicting a fight in a bar and were then interviewed 48 h later according to condition.

Findings
Rapport and environment variously emerged as impactful, resulting in significant improvements in correct recall of persons, actions and object information when rapport was present and in virtual environments (VEs) when communicating via avatars. In many instances, the benefits of rapport and environment were additive, but not always. Surroundings information remained consistent across all conditions. Erroneous recall was extremely susceptible to inflation in face-to-face interviews when rapport was absent, in some instances increasing by over 100%. However, virtual interview spaces appeared to dilute the negative effects on retrieval when rapport was absent.

Research limitations/implications
This study concurs with others who have argued that comfortable witnesses are “better” witnesses; however, understanding what “comfort” looks and feels like remains a challenge.

Practical implications
The results, alongside the findings of others, have implications for applied and social cognition and reveal avenues for future research centred on widening access to justice and professional interview training.

Originality/value
This study reveals that prosocial rapport behaviours and VEs significantly enhance the accuracy of eyewitness recall. The findings suggest that virtual interviews can mitigate errors in the absence of rapport, offering valuable insights for criminal investigators and legal professionals. This research is crucial for improving witness interviewing techniques, thereby aiding in the accurate prosecution of offenders and broadening access to justice. The paper is valuable for criminal investigators, legal professionals, forensic psychologists and researchers focused on improving the reliability of eyewitness testimonies and interview methodologies.

KeywordsEyewitness recall
Episodic memory
Virtual environment
Investigation relevant information
Investigative interview
Avatar
JournalJournal of Criminal Psychology
ISSN2009-3829
Year2024
PublisherEmerald Publishing Limited
Accepted author manuscript
License
CC BY-NC
File Access Level
Open (open metadata and files)
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-07-2024-0057
Publication dates
Published online17 Oct 2024

Related outputs

Individual differences in detecting and sharing misinformation: Positive schizotypy, conspiracy beliefs, and autism
Buchanan, T., Maras, K. and Dando, C.J. 2024. Individual differences in detecting and sharing misinformation: Positive schizotypy, conspiracy beliefs, and autism. Personality and Individual Differences. 233 112946. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2024.112946

Arabic within culture forensic interviews: Arabic native speaking lay-observer truth and lie accuracy, confidence, and verbal cue selection
Dando, C.J., Sandham, A., Sibbons, C. and Taylor, P.J. 2024. Arabic within culture forensic interviews: Arabic native speaking lay-observer truth and lie accuracy, confidence, and verbal cue selection. PLoS ONE. 19 (9) 0310384. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310384

Eyewitness confidence in the interviewing context: Understanding the impact of question type and order
Caso, A., Gabbert, F and Dando, C.J. 2024. Eyewitness confidence in the interviewing context: Understanding the impact of question type and order. Applied Cognitive Psychology. 38 (3) e4197. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.4197

Prevalence, Disclosure, and Help Seeking in Black and Asian Male Survivors of Sexual Violence in the United Kingdom: A Rapid Review
Widanaralalage Don, K., Jennings, S., Dando, C.J. and Mackenzie, J.-M. 2024. Prevalence, Disclosure, and Help Seeking in Black and Asian Male Survivors of Sexual Violence in the United Kingdom: A Rapid Review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. 25 (4), pp. 3299-3314. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380241246217

Orochi impact formula: An evidence-based approach for quantifying the societal harm of County Lines drug supply
Dando, C.J., Milne, R., Jones, A. and Harvey, N. 2024. Orochi impact formula: An evidence-based approach for quantifying the societal harm of County Lines drug supply. The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X241239017

Sorting Insiders from Co-workers: Remote synchronous computer-mediated triage for investigating insider attacks
Dando, C.J., Taylor, P.J., Menacere, M., Ormerod, T.C., Ball, L.J. and Sandham, A.L. 2024. Sorting Insiders from Co-workers: Remote synchronous computer-mediated triage for investigating insider attacks. Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. 66 (1), pp. 145-157. https://doi.org/10.1177/00187208211068292

Widening Student Access to Implicit Assessment Criteria Using Recorded Verbal Instructions
Taylor, D.A. 2023. Widening Student Access to Implicit Assessment Criteria Using Recorded Verbal Instructions. 17th International Technology, Education and Development Conference. Valencia, Spain 06 - 08 Mar 2023 IATED Digital Library. https://doi.org/10.21125/inted.2023.0625

Real-world implications of Aphantasia: Episodic recall of eyewitnesses with aphantasia is less complete but no less accurate than typical imagers.
Dando, C.J., Nahouli, Z. and Pounder, Z. 2023. Real-world implications of Aphantasia: Episodic recall of eyewitnesses with aphantasia is less complete but no less accurate than typical imagers. Royal Society Open Science. 10 (10) 231007. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.231007

Cross cultural verbal cues to deception: truth and lies in first and second language forensic interview contexts
Dando, C.J., Taylor, P. J. and Sandham, A. L. 2023. Cross cultural verbal cues to deception: truth and lies in first and second language forensic interview contexts. Frontiers in Psychology. 14 1709. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1152904

Male survivors of sexual violence: a rapid review of prevalence, disclosure and factors influencing help seeking for ethnic minorities
Jennings, S., Widanaralalage Don, K., Mackenzie, J.-M. and Dando, C.J. 2023. Male survivors of sexual violence: a rapid review of prevalence, disclosure and factors influencing help seeking for ethnic minorities. NIHR.

Coercion and crime: Convergences, divergences and ‘county lines’
Atkinson-Sheppard, S., Dando, C.J., Ormerod, T. and Robinson, B. 2023. Coercion and crime: Convergences, divergences and ‘county lines’. Criminology & Criminal Justice. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/17488958231153981

Parental experiences of the impact of grooming and criminal exploitation of children for county lines drug trafficking
Dando, C.J., Ormerod, T. and Atkinson-Sheppard, S. 2023. Parental experiences of the impact of grooming and criminal exploitation of children for county lines drug trafficking. Journal of Public Health. 45 (2), pp. e346-e354. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdac112

Interviewing in virtual environments: Towards understanding the impact of rapport-building behaviours and retrieval context on eyewitness memory.
Dando, C.J., Taylor, Donna A, Caso, Alessandra, Nahouli, Zacharia and Adam, Charlotte 2023. Interviewing in virtual environments: Towards understanding the impact of rapport-building behaviours and retrieval context on eyewitness memory. Memory & cognition. 51, pp. 404-421. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13421-022-01362-7

‘We’re welcomed into people’s homes every day’ versus ‘we’re the people that come and arrest you’: The relational production of masculinities and vulnerabilities among male first responders
Linceviciute, S., Ridge, Damien T., Gautier, C., Dando, C.J., Oliffe, J. and Broom, A. 2022. ‘We’re welcomed into people’s homes every day’ versus ‘we’re the people that come and arrest you’: The relational production of masculinities and vulnerabilities among male first responders. Sociology of Health & Illness. 44 (7), pp. 1094-1113. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.13481

Improving professional observers’ veracity judgments by tactical interviewing
Sandham, A, Dando, C.J., Bull, R. and Ormerod, T. 2022. Improving professional observers’ veracity judgments by tactical interviewing. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. 37, pp. 279-287. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-020-09391-1

Rapport building and witness memory: Actions may ‘speak’ louder than words
Nahouli, Z., Dando, C.J., Mackenzie, J.-M. and Aresti, A. 2021. Rapport building and witness memory: Actions may ‘speak’ louder than words. PLoS ONE. 16 (8) e0256084. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256084

The use and efficacy of question type and an attentive interviewing style in adult rape interviews
Webster, W., Oxburgh, G. and Dando, Coral J. 2021. The use and efficacy of question type and an attentive interviewing style in adult rape interviews. Psychology, Crime & Law. 27 (7), pp. 656-677. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316x.2020.1849694

Supporting older eyewitnesses’ episodic memory: The Self-Administered Interview and Sketch Reinstatement of Context
Dando, C.J., Gabbert, F. and Hope, L. 2020. Supporting older eyewitnesses’ episodic memory: The Self-Administered Interview and Sketch Reinstatement of Context. Memory. 28 (6), pp. 712-723. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2020.1757718

Aviation security by consent using the Controlled Cognitive Engagement (CCE) alternative screening programme
Dando, C.J. and Ormerod, T. 2020. Aviation security by consent using the Controlled Cognitive Engagement (CCE) alternative screening programme. Journal of Air Transport Management. 86, p. 101824 101824. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jairtraman.2020.101824

The Witness-Aimed First Account (WAFA): A new technique for interviewing autistic witnesses and victims
Maras, K, Dando, C.J., Stephenson, H, Lambrechts, A, Anns, S. and Gaigg, S 2020. The Witness-Aimed First Account (WAFA): A new technique for interviewing autistic witnesses and victims. Autism. 24 (6), p. 1449–1467 Autism; memory; interviewing; support; witness; victim; Criminal Justice System; police; narratives; event segmentation. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361320908986

Non-coercive human intelligence gathering
Dando, C.J. and Ormerod, T. 2020. Non-coercive human intelligence gathering. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. 149 (8), pp. 1435-1448. https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0000724

Police officers’ and Registered Intermediaries’ use of drawing during investigative interviews with vulnerable witnesses
Mattison, M.A. and Dando, C.J. 2020. Police officers’ and Registered Intermediaries’ use of drawing during investigative interviews with vulnerable witnesses. Psychology, Crime and Law. 26 (2), pp. 167-185. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2019.1652744

The cognitive interview: a tiered approach in the real world
Milne, B., Griffiths, A., Clarke, C. and Dando, C.J. 2019. The cognitive interview: a tiered approach in the real world. in: Dickinson, J.J., Compo, N.S., Carol, R.N., Schwartz , B.L. and McCauley, M.R. (ed.) Evidence based investigative interviewing New York Routledge. pp. 56-73

Health inequalities and health equity challenges for victims of modern slavery
Dando, C.J., Brierley, Robin, Saunders, Karen and Mackenzie, J.-M. 2018. Health inequalities and health equity challenges for victims of modern slavery. Journal of Public Health. 41 (4), pp. 681-688. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdy187

One step forward and two steps back? The ‘20 Principles’ for questioning vulnerable witnesses and the lack of an evidence-based approach
Cooper, C., Dando, C.J., Ormerod T., Mattison, M., Marchant, R., Milne, R. and Bull, R. 2018. One step forward and two steps back? The ‘20 Principles’ for questioning vulnerable witnesses and the lack of an evidence-based approach. International Journal of Evidence and Proof. 22 (4), pp. 392-410. https://doi.org/10.1177/1365712718793435

Eyewitness Memory in Face-to-Face and Immersive Avatar-to-Avatar Contexts
Taylor, D.A. and Dando, C.J. 2018. Eyewitness Memory in Face-to-Face and Immersive Avatar-to-Avatar Contexts. Frontiers in Psychology. 9 507. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00507

Triage Decision-Making by Welfare Fraud Investigators
Walsh, D., Dando, C.J. and Ormerod, T.C. 2018. Triage Decision-Making by Welfare Fraud Investigators. Journal of Applied Research in Memory & Cognition. 7 (1), pp. 82-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jarmac.2018.01.002

No evidence against Sketch Reinstatement of Context, Verbal Labels or the use of Registered Intermediaries for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Response to Henry et al. (2017)
Dando, C.J., Ormerod, T. C., Cooper, T. C., Mattison, M., Merchant, R., Milne, R. and Bull, R. 2018. No evidence against Sketch Reinstatement of Context, Verbal Labels or the use of Registered Intermediaries for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Response to Henry et al. (2017). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 48 (7), pp. 2593-2596. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3479-z

'Spontaneous' Visual Perspective-Taking Mediated by Attention Orienting that is Voluntary and not Reflexive
Gardner, M., Taylor, D.A., Hull, Z. and Edmonds, C.J. 2018. 'Spontaneous' Visual Perspective-Taking Mediated by Attention Orienting that is Voluntary and not Reflexive. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. 71 (4), pp. 1020-1029. https://doi.org/10.1080/17470218.2017.1307868

Drawing the answers: Sketching to support free and probed recall by child witnesses and victims with autism spectrum disorder
Mattison, M., Dando, C.J. and Ormerod, T.C. 2018. Drawing the answers: Sketching to support free and probed recall by child witnesses and victims with autism spectrum disorder. Autism . 22 (2), pp. 181-194. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361316669088

Analysing decision logs to understand decision-making in serious crime investigations
Dando, C.J. and Ormerod, T.C. 2017. Analysing decision logs to understand decision-making in serious crime investigations. Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. 59 (8), pp. 1188-1203. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018720817727899

Cognition in context: A comparison of eyewitness retrieval in face-to-face, remote avatar mediated, and asynchronous vocal smartphone interviews
Taylor, D.A. and Dando, C.J. 2017. Cognition in context: A comparison of eyewitness retrieval in face-to-face, remote avatar mediated, and asynchronous vocal smartphone interviews. International Investigative Interviewing Research Group Conference (iIIRG X 2017). Monterey, California 05 - 07 Jul 2017

Cognition in context: A comparison of eyewitness retrieval in face-to-face and remote avatar mediated interviews
Taylor, D.A. and Dando, C.J. 2017. Cognition in context: A comparison of eyewitness retrieval in face-to-face and remote avatar mediated interviews . EAPL. Brussels 29 - 31 May 2017

Interviewing Adult Witnesses and Victims
Dando, C.J., Geiselman, R. E., MacLeod, N. and Griffiths, A. 2016. Interviewing Adult Witnesses and Victims. in: Oxburgh, G., Myklebust, T. and Milne, R. (ed.) Communication in Investigative and Legal Contexts: Integrated Approaches from Forensic Psychology, Linguistics and Law Enforcement Chichester Wiley. pp. 79-107

Applied Cyberpsychology: Military and Defence Applications
Dando, C.J. and Tranter, C. 2016. Applied Cyberpsychology: Military and Defence Applications. in: Attrill, A. and Fullwood, C. (ed.) Applied Cyberpsychology. Practical Applications of Cyberpsychological Theory and Research Hampshire Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 197-216

Perceptions of Psychological Coercion and Human Trafficking in the West Midlands of England: Beginning to Know the Unknown
Dando, C. J., Walsh, D. and Brierley, R. 2016. Perceptions of Psychological Coercion and Human Trafficking in the West Midlands of England: Beginning to Know the Unknown. PLoS ONE. 11 (5) e0153263. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0153263

Empathy in the field: Towards a taxonomy of empathic communication in information gathering interviews with suspected sex offenders
Dando, C.J. and Oxburgh G.E. 2016. Empathy in the field: Towards a taxonomy of empathic communication in information gathering interviews with suspected sex offenders. The European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context. 8 (1), pp. 27-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpal.2015.10.001

An integrated psychology virtual research ethics committee
Boubert, L. and Taylor, D.A. 2016. An integrated psychology virtual research ethics committee. EDULEARN16. Barcelona 04 - 06 Jul 2016 IATED Academy. https://doi.org/10.21125/edulearn.2016.1731

Scent Trails: The challenge of Countering Terrorism Through Intelligent Surveillance
Sandham, A., Ormerod, T.C., Dando, C.J. and Menacere, T. 2015. Scent Trails: The challenge of Countering Terrorism Through Intelligent Surveillance. in: Stedmon, A. and Lawson, G. (ed.) Hostile Intent and Counter-Terrorism: Human Factors Theory and Application London Routledge. pp. 129-149

Drawing to remember: Supporting child witnesses and victims with Autistic Spectrum Disorder to give ‘Best Evidence’
Matison, M. L., Dando, C.J. and Ormerod, T. C. 2015. Drawing to remember: Supporting child witnesses and victims with Autistic Spectrum Disorder to give ‘Best Evidence’. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 45 (6), pp. 1751-1765. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2335-z

Finding a needle in a haystack: Towards a psychologically-informed method for aviation security screening
Ormerod, T.C. and Dando, C.J. 2015. Finding a needle in a haystack: Towards a psychologically-informed method for aviation security screening. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. 144 (1), p. 76–84. https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0000030

Intelligence Interviewing: Synthetic Environments, Cognition and Cognitive Styles
Dando, C.J. and Tranter, C.L. 2015. Intelligence Interviewing: Synthetic Environments, Cognition and Cognitive Styles. Investigative Interviewing: Research and Practice. 7 (2), pp. 43-51.

The Breast Size Rating Scale: Development and psychometric evaluation
Swami, V., Cavelti, S., Taylor, D.A. and Tovee, M.J. 2015. The Breast Size Rating Scale: Development and psychometric evaluation. Body Image. 14, pp. 29-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.02.004

Is the hijab protective? An investigation of body image and related constructs among British Muslim women
Swami, V., Miah, J., Noorani, N. and Taylor, D.A. 2014. Is the hijab protective? An investigation of body image and related constructs among British Muslim women. British Journal of Psychology. 105 (3), pp. 352-363. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12045

Metalheads: the influence of personality and individual differences on preference for heavy metal
Swami, V., Malpass, F., Havard, D., Benford, K., Costescu, A., Sofitiki, A. and Taylor, D.A. 2013. Metalheads: the influence of personality and individual differences on preference for heavy metal. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts. 7 (4), pp. 377-383. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034493

Weight discrepancy and body appreciation among women in Poland and Britain
Taylor, D.A., Szpakowska, I. and Swami, V. 2013. Weight discrepancy and body appreciation among women in Poland and Britain. Body Image. 10 (4), pp. 628-631. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2013.07.008

Social dominance orientation predicts drive for muscularity among British men
Swami, V., Neofytou, R.V., Jablonska, J., Thirlwell, H., Taylor, D.A. and McCreary, D.R. 2013. Social dominance orientation predicts drive for muscularity among British men. Body Image. 10 (4), pp. 653-656. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2013.07.007

Detecting insider threats through language change
Taylor, P. J., Dando, C.J., Ormerod, T. C., Ball, L., Jenkins, M., Sandham, A. and Menacere, T. 2013. Detecting insider threats through language change. Law and Human Behavior. 37 (4), pp. 267-275.. https://doi.org/10.1037/lhb0000032

Drawing to Remember: External Support of Older Adults’ Eyewitness Performance
Dando, C.J. 2013. Drawing to Remember: External Support of Older Adults’ Eyewitness Performance. PLoS ONE. 8 (7) e69937. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0069937

Featural and holistic processing in facial composite construction: the role of cognitive style and processing sets
Taylor, D.A. 2012. Featural and holistic processing in facial composite construction: the role of cognitive style and processing sets. PhD thesis University of Westminster School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Languages https://doi.org/10.34737/8z369

Suicides by foreign national prisoners in England and Wales 2007: mental health and cultural issues
Borrill, J. and Taylor, D.A. 2009. Suicides by foreign national prisoners in England and Wales 2007: mental health and cultural issues. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology. 20 (6), pp. 886-905. https://doi.org/10.1080/14789940903174113

Victims and witnesses of crime: Police officers' perceptions of interviewing practices
Dando, C.J., Wilcock, R. and Milne, R. 2008. Victims and witnesses of crime: Police officers' perceptions of interviewing practices. Legal and Criminological Psychology. 13 (1), pp. 59-70. https://doi.org/10.1348/135532506X162498

Review of suicides by foreign national prisoners
Borrill, J., Taylor, D.A. and Nooney, K. 2008. Review of suicides by foreign national prisoners. 12th European Symposium on Suicide & Suicidal Behaviour. Glasgow 27 - 30 Aug 2008

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/wx28x/eyewitness-memory-for-person-object-and-action-information-is-mediated-by-interview-environment-and-the-presence-or-absence-of-rapport


Share this

Usage statistics

24 total views
15 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.