The inaccurate recall of memory : investigating the impact of questioning style within the judicial system

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to determine whether different questioning styles and time intervals elicit different rates of accuracy in one’s recollection of a crime. The dependent variable was the number of accurate responses, while the independent variables were time and questioning condition. An experiment with within-group comparisons for time and between-group comparisons for questioning style was used. Time intervals included immediate and a one-week delay, while the questioning styles were Free Recall, police-style questioning, and an established Self-Administered Interview (SAI) (Gabbert, Hope & Fisher, 2013). The data was analysed quantitatively, and its results revealed a statistically significant correlation between questioning style and accuracy. The more detailed the questions, the higher the number of accurate recollections. Therefore, the nature of this experiments questioning styles revealed the lowest to highest accurate response rates, namely, Free Recall, police style, and then SAI. Furthermore, for all questioning conditions, the one-week delay led to a statistically significant decrease in accurate responses. The findings suggest that different questioning styles can elicit different rates of accurate responses, and time is a significant factor for memory decline.