Enhancing Police Interviews: How age, verbal instruction, rapport and question type influence adult witness confidence and accuracy reports

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Cooke, KN orcid iconORCID: 0009-0004-2774-5632 and Wheatcroft, JM orcid iconORCID: 0000-0001-7212-1598 (2026) Enhancing Police Interviews: How age, verbal instruction, rapport and question type influence adult witness confidence and accuracy reports. The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles. ISSN 0032-258X

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Open Access URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X261420618 (Published version)

Abstract

Witnesses are pivotal to police investigations and rapport-building is considered crucial to interview effectiveness. Study findings have implications for operational interviewing, research, and training. In this online study, 198 adult participants were randomly allocated to control, rapport or verbal instruction (VI) conditions, separated by age. Results showed those aged 18–33 were less accurate in free recall and more susceptible to confabulation in VI. Confidence for directive leading questions was higher in VI than rapport. Outcomes suggest a statement strengthening the requirement not to make-up details should be implemented, with effective rapport-building essential to guard against the impact of questioning.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: 1602 Criminology; 4402 Criminology
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology > HV7231 Criminal Justice Administrations
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology > HV7231 Criminal Justice Administrations > HV7551 Police. Detectives. Constabulary
Divisions: Psychology (from Sep 2019)
Publisher: Sage
Date of acceptance: 19 January 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access: 12 February 2026
Date Deposited: 12 Feb 2026 14:00
Last Modified: 12 Feb 2026 14:00
DOI or ID number: 10.1177/0032258X261420618
URI: https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28087
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