Cold Cases and Cognizance: Exploring Investigative Interviews and Memory Hargun K. Randhawa Thompson Rivers University PSYC 3720 : Special Topics in Psychology: Cold Case Investigations Dr. Heather Price November 7, 2023 Most people face challenges when it comes to recalling past events, and we frequently fail to grasp the subtleties of memory retrieval. The ability to retrieve memories might depend on our level of attention at the time and our environmental surroundings, even when we fail to recognize the significance of an event at that moment. An important part of the job for cold case investigators is overcoming the complexities of memory recall. Their questioning can be the difference between revealing important information and keeping certain secrets under wraps. To further understand this, I conducted an interview to learn about my interviewee's memories of the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout our interview, I systematically used best-practice interviewing techniques - such as the cognitive interviewing technique and the timeline technique - drawing on the knowledge and strategies laid out in the course materials. Furthermore, I strictly followed the ethical standards for interviews, ensuring that my interviewee's consent was obtained and maintained throughout the entire process. During the interview, I used a systematic approach to uncover my interviewees' memories of the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. I began with open-ended questions, asking her to recall whatever she could remember regarding the start of the pandemic. This strategy aimed to establish a safe and open environment for sharing memories. I used active listening strategies, such as responding with "yeah" and "hmm," to demonstrate my engagement and encourage my interviewee to continue telling her accounts. These strategies aided in the establishment of rapport, allowing her to feel more at ease during the interview. It also exhibited empathy and understanding, which should be very important in an interview. As we discussed in class, I made sure the interviewee remained the main focus of the process and that it was centred around her knowledge of the event (H. Price, personal communication, October 5, 2023). I asked her about her environment, neighbourhood, and social life to better understand how she lived during the early pandemic. The questions were intended to give context to what her living situation looked like. The timeline technique was an important tool I used to understand the chronology of events as they took place. To maintain transparency, I explained why I was using this technique, which would allow my interviewee to help me create a more accurate chronological account of her memories. However, I did not gain a lot of new information from this strategy, most likely because I did not use it to its maximum potential. The "context reinstatement" is a technique that can be used to help the interviewee see themselves in the situation, according to an article published by the Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats (n.d). This would facilitate the interviewee's ability to provide further details. Throughout the interview, I noticed both advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage was our varied backgrounds. Our experiences with the pandemic were diverse because we were from different countries. This difference prevented us from unintentionally filling in the blanks in each other's recollections. In this way, we were able to simulate the circumstances of an actual cold case investigative interview. The interview process was enhanced by this dynamic. However, a problem surfaced when I realised that, unlike in actual investigative interviews, my interviewee was aware of the kinds of questions I may ask. Although this information was useful for our academic purpose, it would raise a possible problem for real investigative interviews because interviewees do not know what the investigators are looking for. There are some areas in which I could improve my interviewing approach. For example, I realised that I frequently filled silences in the conversation, leaving no room for pauses. In an investigative interview, it may be necessary to allow for pauses to provide the interviewee time to assemble their thoughts without external influence. This realisation was an important takeaway from the experience and emphasized the significance of providing an environment in which interviewees can think and recollect freely. During the interview, I also asked a few leading questions that may have influenced the interviewee to provide answers they felt would be helpful to me. This is also a major issue in investigative interviews. Cairns-Lee et al. (2022) present a typology of how interview questions might guide responses in addition to highlighting the issue of their influence. The interviewer should be directive when using "clean language," which includes relevant interview questions (Cairns-Lee, 2022). This experience shed light on the complexities of investigative interviewing, particularly in cold cases. It became apparent to me that interviewers frequently make errors like asking leading questions or forgetting to allow for pauses. I realised how important it is to know what to look for in memories and recognise the limitations of memory. Investigative interviews provide a variety of challenges that investigators have to work with. Among these, memory reliability is the biggest problem. Recalling details might be difficult because memories fade and distort with time. As discussed in class, memory is not intended to be precise and is prone to errors (H. Price, personal communication, September 28, 2023). This is especially true for cold cases when a significant amount of time has passed. In addition, repressed memories present a unique challenge, as I experienced throughout my interview process. According to Conway (2012), "Memories for traumatic experiences, childhood events, interview and identification practices, memory in younger children and older adults and other vulnerable groups all have special features". This would mean that it might be difficult to recall painful or upsetting experiences, and thus interviewers need to use specific methods and exhibit extreme caution while trying to retrieve these memories. Retrieving important information can be difficult if memories have faded or have been damaged. Furthermore, given the length of time that has passed, witnesses and potential interviewees may be less eager to help in cold cases. Finally, biases and preconceptions might subtly influence the interview's direction and jeopardise the investigation's objectivity, and possibly affect both the interviewer and the interviewee. While there are obstacles, investigative interviews have certain advantages, such as providing access to vital information that may not be obtainable through other means. Details can be clarified through investigative interviews as well. Interviewees may remember and give a more accurate account of events if skilled questioning and active listening are used. Investigative interviews have the ability to uncover important information that has been lost for a long time, which might reshape investigations that have been stagnant and ultimately play a crucial part in solving cold cases. Conducting interviews in cold cases may also provide a sense of relief to witnesses who have been living with shame or fear, allowing them to share their information or experiences and maybe find closure. Interviewing people in cold cases after a long period of time can have a major impact on the accounts they provide. Over time, memory—the foundation of these investigations— naturally deteriorates. Memories record experiences and not the event (H. Price, personal communication, September 28, 2023). This implies that even though two people witness the same event, their memories of it may differ greatly. It is possible for people to selectively recall some specifics of an event, especially those that are emotionally or visually striking while ignoring important details. Long delays might also increase the susceptibility of interviewees to suggestions since they may have discussed the matter with others or seen coverage in the media. This may cause information from outside sources to be combined with memories that are real. 'Filling in' the information is a function of memory, and weakened memories are more susceptible to outside influences (H. Price, personal communication, September 28, 2023). It is therefore a delicate and complex process to rely on memory reports in cold cases. The reliability of memory is influenced by a variety of factors, making it a fallible tool. Therefore, interviewing skills become even more important in delayed investigations (H. Price, personal communication, September 28, 2023). Through this reflection on my interview experience, I gained insights into the complexities of memory recall as well as the advantages and disadvantages of conducting interviews, particularly in the context of cold cases. I now recognise the fragility of memory. It is a dynamic thing that is susceptible to change over time in response to a range of outside influences, experiences, and emotions. There are significant obstacles brought out by aging, memory loss, and the possibility of fabricated or reconstructed memories. However, there's still a chance to find new evidence, revive long-ago cases, and give witnesses emotional relief. I now have even greater respect for the skills and hard work that conducting an interview for a cold case may need. This reflection affirms the crucial function that investigative interviews perform in the search for justice and resolution. References Cairns-Lee, H., Lawley, J., & Tosey, P. (2022). Enhancing researcher reflexivity about the influence of leading questions in interviews. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 58(1), 164–188. https://doi.org/10.1177/00218863211037446 Conway, M. A. (2012). Ten things the law and others should know about human memory. In Memory and Law (pp. 359–372). Oxford University Press. Price, H. (2023a, September 28). Memory Evidence Interviewing. Price, H. (2023b, October 5). Interviewing Principles. The Timeline Technique. (n.d.). The Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats.
