Accurate information is the foundation of true discovery. Whether gathering information as part of creating a threat assessment, building risk profile, or conducting interviews as part of an investigation, the ability to gather information from human sources is a critically important part of the investigative professional’s toolkit.
That toolkit is always evolving, however, and interview and investigation techniques have changed over time. In recent years, this evolution has given rise to the growing popularity of new and more effective investigative strategies. Understanding and embracing this new approach to interviews and discovery can make all the difference at a time when the ability to gather and leverage accurate information can be even more efficient than ever before.
Cognitive-based interviewing techniques — a new approach
Many experienced investigative professionals have a background in law enforcement, where the Reid interrogation technique has long been the accepted procedural standard. Developed in the 1950s by a former Chicago police officer, Reid-style interrogation is based on aggressively applying psychological pressure to interview subjects — and alleviating that pressure with feigned empathy and offers of assistance — to elicit a confession.
The most recent body of research, however, has demonstrated that some of the behavioral cues and body language signifiers interviewers have traditionally been taught to look for and consider deceptive under the Reid approach are much less definitive and cannot be relied upon. The latest cognitive and behavioral science has helped inform a new approach to information gathering that is less about deception and manipulation and more about transparency.
Under this new approach, investigators are doing less talking and more listening, adopting a straightforward, informational tone. This approach encourages recall in interview subjects, identifying deception not through behavioral pseudoscience, but through a more structured, analytical approach that may include asking subjects to tell a story backwards or from a different perspective, or to fill in additional details.
Examining narratives in this way also aligns with investigative priorities to get a more complete picture — and to record verifiable details that can help prove or disprove given facts. It includes guidance for the strategic use of evidence, including when and how to present evidence in a way that maximizes the impact and garners more information from interview subjects — not less. Ultimately, this approach is not about judgement or emotion, but about equipping investigative professionals with tools they need to conduct a dispassionate, logical search for truth.
This is all part of a larger movement toward the value of de-escalation and productive engagement in law enforcement and security circles. It’s also about ensuring the integrity of the process, the validity of the information, and the dignity of the participants in that process. In the UK and Europe, many countries do not allow the older techniques to be practiced. It is a welcome development that United States law enforcement organizations are catching up and are beginning to recognize the weaknesses in this traditional approach and embracing more cognitive interviewing techniques.
Responsible interviewing can mitigate risks
At Pinkerton, our investigations unit uses the latest behavioral science insights to help develop a codified set of training tools and techniques that integrate these effective new investigative methods. Experienced investigative professionals understand that there is a fundamental difference between an interview and an interrogation, and cognitive interviewing techniques that utilize a less aggressive approach are not only more effective, but they are also (for obvious reasons) preferred by employers who are understandably disinclined to have their employees feel like suspects. Investigations can be inherently scary for interview subjects. Even when the experience is nothing like the intense moments portrayed in movies and popular media, making people comfortable and minimizing game-playing while creating an atmosphere that promotes the sharing of accurate information is enormously valuable.
Responsible interviewing and information gathering is as much about protecting the innocent as prosecuting the guilty. Another advantage for interviewers utilizing this new approach is that they are more equipped to account for factors like developmental disabilities, mental illness, emotional stress, and youth — all things that have been shown to contribute to false confessions in the past. Consequently, these techniques are less problematic in terms of compromising the legality of the process and the legitimacy of the information gathered.
Because authenticity matters and even experienced investigative professionals need to learn how to use these tools and make them their own, education and training is critical. Pinkerton works hard to provide the necessary information about cognitive interviewing techniques as a critical first step.
Cognitive-based information gathering can lead to better outcomes
For Pinkerton, remaining at the forefront of the consulting and investigations industry does not mean throwing out everything we have learned in the past. But it does mean continuing to evolve and become more sophisticated, embracing the latest science and adopting new and better strategies for information-gathering in support of our mission.
Today, Pinkerton is using these new cognitive-based interviewing and information gathering methods to produce more effective investigations and better outcomes. Fundamentally, it’s about making sure we are the best in the business when it comes to gathering high-quality information. By actively adopting and training on these techniques, we are equipping our investigators for success — giving them the tools and the skills they need to do their job more effectively and make our clients’ safer.
