3.1 Evaluating the evidence in the interviews
Next, you are asked to work out the style of questions used by DS Sund in the interviews and, just as you did for DI Bullet.
To help you evaluate the interviews conducted by DS Sund, the next activity involves looking at the particular styles of questioning that she used. For each question in the activity, you will be provided with a question that was used by DS Sund in the audios of the interviews that you heard. Your job is to decide which of four question styles is being used. Identifying the question style will help you evaluate the evidence gained in the interview.
Here is a quick summary of the four question styles to help you with the activity:
Leading questions
The questions tend to strongly suggest what response is expected, and/or assume details that have not been provided by the witness.
Open questions
These questions seek an open-ended response from the witness, and do not limit, focus or direct the witness’s response except in the most general way.
Focused questions
These questions focus the witness’s attention on details or aspects of the event that the witness has previously described. They direct the witness to search their memory for details or aspects of the event that they have mentioned previously.
Option-posing questions
These questions limit the response the witness can give to specific options, and usually focus on aspects of the event which the witness has not already described.
Activity 5 Evaluating DS Sund’s interview questions
Allow about 15 minutes
Q1. ‘Let’s focus on the driver and the car. When did you first see the car?’ This is:
Q2. ‘Can you work backwards from there? What happened before the car drove away?’ This is:
Q3. ‘You mention the driver, was he wearing a mask?’ This is:
Q4. ‘Seth, in your own words and taking all the time you need, I want you to describe to me what happened.’ This is:
Q5. ‘Let’s start by getting a picture of where this took place. Can you describe the surroundings?’ This is:
Q6. ‘You said one of the robbers was standing in the road and you suddenly noticed him. Can you describe that person to me?’ This is:
OpenLearn - Forensic psychology
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