How does cognitive interviewing improve witness memory recall?

Cognitive interviewing enhances witness memory recall primarily through a technique known as context reinstatement. This method encourages witnesses to mentally recreate the environment and emotional context surrounding the event they witnessed. By doing so, it stimulates recall by connecting the memories to contextual cues that may have been present during the original event. This approach takes advantage of the associative nature of memory, where recall can be facilitated by providing cues related to the time, place, and feelings associated with the experience.

The emphasis on context reinstatement is significant because it allows interviewers to tap into the witness's vivid memories and sensory experiences, leading to a more comprehensive and accurate recall of events. This contrasts sharply with other methods, such as leading questions, which can introduce biases and distortions; hypnosis techniques that carry risks of false memories; and providing written statements, which do not engage the witness's memory in a dynamic way. Each of those alternatives does not capitalize on the inherent strategies that cognitive interviewing uses to effectively enhance memory recall.