Cognitive information
While using the cognitive-based information gathering technique during an interview or interrogation, what are some of the approaches that have proven themselves successful at increasing the cognitive-loads, particularly on deceivers?
Cognitive information
There are a number of cognitive-based information gathering techniques that have been shown to be effective at increasing cognitive load, particularly on deceivers. These techniques include:
- Asking leading questions. Leading questions are those that suggest the answer that the interviewer is looking for. For example, instead of asking "Did you see the suspect?", an interviewer might ask "You saw the suspect, didn't you?". Leading questions can increase cognitive load by forcing the interviewee to think about the question in a way that they may not have otherwise.
- Asking open-ended questions. Open-ended questions are those that do not have a specific answer. For example, instead of asking "What did you do yesterday?", an interviewer might ask "Tell me about your day yesterday". Open-ended questions can increase cognitive load by forcing the interviewee to provide more detail, which can be more difficult for deceivers to do.
- Asking unexpected questions. Unexpected questions are those that the interviewee is not expecting. For example, instead of asking "Where were you at 10:00 PM last night?", an interviewer might ask "What did you eat for breakfast yesterday?". Unexpected questions can increase cognitive load by forcing the interviewee to think on their feet, which can be more difficult for deceivers to do.
- Asking repeated questions. Repeated questions are those that are asked multiple times in different ways. For example, an interviewer might ask "What did you do yesterday?", then "Can you tell me more about what you did yesterday?", then "Can you walk me through your day yesterday?". Repeated questions can increase cognitive load by forcing the interviewee to remember and recall the same information multiple times, which can be more difficult for deceivers to do.
- Stress. Stress can increase cognitive load by making it more difficult to focus and concentrate.
- Fatigue. Fatigue can also increase cognitive load by making it more difficult to think clearly.
- Alcohol and drugs. Alcohol and drugs can impair cognitive function, which can increase cognitive load.