Chapter 6: Formulation of Interview Questions

clarifying questions
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Terms in this set (26)
clarifying questions
Open-ended questions that (1) are designed to elicit further information within a section of the account, (2) seek an explanation for events, or (3) develop information about the subject's feelings or thoughts
direct question
usually closed questions asked to elicit a specific position or answer from the subject
evasive response
a response that does not offer a definitive answer to a direct question
follow-up question
a question that is specifically directed at some aspect of the subject's original response and is instrumental in clarifying a subject's behavior
forced silence
A technique used by investigators to encourage a full response to the initial open question
hypothetical follow-up question
a question asked by the investigator to clarify the subject's position when qualifiers are used by the subject in response. Often start with "Is it possible" or "Do you think perhaps"
implied action phrase
phrases that require the listener to make assumptions about what probably happened. (E.g. "He began..." and "I wanted too"
memory qualifier
word(s) that express uncertainty when a person is recalling past events
negative question
a question that expects agreement with an implication contained within the question
Open question
a question that calls for a narrative response
qualified responsea response that contains words or phrases that decrease the level of personal commitment or confidence within the subject's responsetagginga questioning error that involves the investigator asking a direct question and then continuing to talk, perhaps by suggestins possible responses to the question or clarifying the questiontime-gap phrasephrases that indicate omissions in the account of an event (e.g. "Before I knew it..." and "The next thing I remember...") and help direct the investigator's attention to a portion of an account that requires clarificationIndications of Truthfulnesssimilar detail throughout the account out-of-sequence information expressions of thoughts and emotionsIndications of Deceptionvarying levels of detail perfect chronology within account the absence of thoughts or emotions phrases indicating a time-gapThree Types of Clarifying QuestionsQuestions designed to elicit further information within a section of an account Questions seeking an explanation for events Questions designed to develop information about the subject's feelings or thoughtsAn investigator's ability to develop meaningful information from a suspect, witness, or victim relates directly to his skill in formulating questions properly and asking appropriate ___ ___ ___ when they are neededfollow-up questionsEarly during the interview, ask the subject an ___ ___ ___ question to elicit his version of events concerning the issue under investigation. Allow the subject to completely respond to that question, without interruptions, while making ___ ___ of key informationInitial open-ended, written notesAsk clarifying questions that relate back to the subject's response to the ___ ___ ___ question. These should be ___ ___ that allow the subject to expand on information already provided to the investigatorInitial open-ended, open questionsAsk direct questions to elicit a ___ ___ from the subject to expand in areas that remain unclear or to develop information that was not yet discussedDefinitive positionIf a response to a direct question contains symptoms of ___ ___, the investigator should ask appropriate ___ ___ ___ to further develop information or draw out behaviorPossible deception, follow-up questionsIt is always more advantageous to have a subjectivity part of the truth than to ___ ___ ___ ___Fabricate through a lieThe initial open question should be phrased in ___The broadest sense possibleIf the subject did not specifically state something happened, the investigator ___Should not assume that it didAsking direct questionsWhenever practical, ask an open question rather than a direct question When seeking possible admission, use none descriptive language Do not predicate a question on information the subject provided at some earlier point in time Do not combine two issues within the same question Direct questions should be short and succint Do not include memory qualifiers within your question Do not ask challenging questionsA subject's responses to follow-up questions are often much more useful in identifying ___ or ___ than the initial response to the original questiontruth, deception