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Supporting Witnesses and Victims to Invoke Episodic Retrieval Mode: Own-Generated Verbal- and Sketch-Reinstatement-of-Context Retrieval Cues Improves Recall Versus Interviewer-Generated Mental Reinstatement of Context Cues
by Coral J. Dando 1,*ORCID,Rachael V. Dando 2,Hannah Richardson 1,Aurora Osorio Rojas 1 andDonna A. Taylor 1ORCID
1
Department of Psychology, University of Westminster, London W1W 6UW, UK
2
Mental Health Treatment Requirement Services, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool L1 9AA, UK
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(2), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16020245
Submission received: 2 December 2025 / Revised: 18 January 2026 / Accepted: 30 January 2026 / Published: 9 February 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Cognition)
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Abstract
Background: Criminal justice relies on information from witnesses. Retrieval from episodic memory is cognitively demanding; thus, many interview protocols advocate techniques to support episodic retrieval mode, which is essential for obtaining detailed accounts. Currently, interviewers have two empirically validated techniques for triggering and scaffolding conscious remembering: Mental-Reinstatement-of-Context and Sketch-Reinstatement-of-Context. However, where neither is appropriate, there exist few alternatives. We report a potential future addition to the interviewer toolbox, aimed at reinstating context through self-directed verbal cueing, namely the Verbal-Reinstatement-of-Context. Methods: Using a between-conditions mock witness paradigm, we compared the interviewer-directed Mental-Reinstatement-of-Context technique with self-directed Sketch-Reinstatement-of-Context and Verbal-Reinstatement-of-Context cue techniques. Participants were interviewed 48 h after they had seen a mock robbery. Memory performance was analyzed for correct and erroneous recall, completeness, and accuracy. Results: Participants who self-generated retrieval cues recalled an average of 26% (Sketch-Reinstatement-of-Context) and 11% (Verbal-Reinstatement-of-Context) more correct information and were more complete and more accurate than those in the Mental-Reinstatement-of-Context condition. Improved recall was not accompanied by increased errors. Mean combined errors were an average of 34% and 22% lower (respectively) in the self-generated cue conditions. Conclusions: Consistent with prior research, self-generated retrieval cues were more effective than interviewer-initiated cues. Sketch-Reinstatement-of-Context and Verbal-Reinstatementme-of-Context conferred clear advantages, although Sketch-Reinstatement-of-Context was most efficient overall. For witnesses unable or unwilling to sketch, Verbal-Reinstatement-of-Context may be a viable alternative. |
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