Assessing the Effectiveness of a Self-Administered Interview for Improving Eyewitness Testimonies

Abstract

Eyewitnesses can offer an important contribution to the resolution of court cases. Although there is still no consensus regarding the reliability of evidence obtained from such testimonies, the literature indicates that statements and visual identifications, when appropriately collected, can be highly reliable and accurate. A crucial factor in ensuring the accuracy of testimonies is maintaining a short interval between the event and the collection of this information, as memories tend to deteriorate over time. The Self-Administered Interview (SAI(c)) is an instrument developed to enable the rapid and self-guided collection of eyewitness statements. It can be applied in different formats (e.g., written, oral, online) without compromising the quality of the responses or the details mentioned. However, the time elapsed between the event and the administration of the SAI(c) also has implications for witness performance. A factor that remains unclear in the literature is whether the SAI(c) also maintains the accuracy of visual identifications. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of the time interval between exposure to the event and the administration of the SAI(c) on the amount of correct information reported, the accuracy of recalled details, and visual recognition. A video of a man stabbing a woman was shown to participants (N = 83). Depending on the condition, participants completed the SAI(c) immediately, after 24 hours, or after one week of watching the video. The control group did not complete the SAI(c). Two weeks after viewing the video, all participants completed a free recall and a visual recognition test. The groups that completed the SAI(c) tended to recall more correct information about the victim. More details were recalled by participants who completed the SAI(c) after 24hours. Although not statistically significant, participants who completed the SAI(c) performed better on the visual recognition test compared with the control group, suggesting a positive effect of completing the SAI(c).