PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR ENTRY LEVEL
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS 100% VERIFIED
NEWEST VERSION
"What is "entrapment"? - CORRECT ANSWER=> Suggesting, or leading a subject into, unethical or
illegal behavior that the subject otherwise would not have done."
"May a private investigator use undercover methods when working for an attorney during active
litigation? - CORRECT ANSWER=> No."
"Should cooperative or uncooperative witnesses be interviewed in detail first? And why? -
CORRECT ANSWER=> Cooperative witnesses should be interviewed first, because they can
provide the investigator with general information that can then be used to challenge, and
extract details from, uncooperative witnesses."
"If, while approving and signing the pages of an affidavit or declaration, the witness changes
their mind, what happens to those pages that have already been approved or signed? - CORRECT
ANSWER=> The investigator may keep those pages that the witness has already approved and
signed, and use them in the case."
"What is the difference between covert and overt surveillance? - CORRECT ANSWER=> "Covert"
means observing the subject from a safe distance where the observer will not be easily
recognized. "Over" means observing the subject from a much closer distance, and does not hide
the fact that they are physically observing the subject, but uses a ruse or cover for doing so."
"What is "response latency"? - CORRECT ANSWER=> The delay between when a question ends,
and when the subject starts to respond. (Greater latency tends to indicate deception.)"
"What is "listing"? - CORRECT ANSWER=> When an untruthful subject rattles off a clearly-
rehearsed narrative of an account, often with numbered or lettered bullet points."
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,"What are the 4 possible categories of responses a subject may use to respond to a question
posed by an investigator? - CORRECT ANSWER=> 1. Telling the truth.
2. Omitting all or part of the truth.
3. Evading the truth by verbal implication.
4. Outright lying."
"What is a "qualifier"? - CORRECT ANSWER=> Anything (word, phrase, sentence) that lessens a
subject's commitment to their answer."
"What is an "alternative question"? - CORRECT ANSWER=> A type of admission-seeking question
in which the investigator poses 2 different scenarios to the subject and asks them which one is
correct. (Both responses are admissions of guilt, but one paints the subject in a more favorable
light than the other.)"
"Are affidavits and declarations obtained before or after the conclusion of the interview and the
completion of the interview report? - CORRECT ANSWER=> After both the completion of the
interview and the completion of the interview report."
"After drawing up a verbatim statement, what are the 6 things an investigator should do with
the witness? - CORRECT ANSWER=> 1. Show the statement to the witness and read it together,
word by word.
2. Ask the witness if they want to make any changes.
3. Cross out any words to be removed and add new words above the line.
4. Have witness initial any changes.
5. Have witness sign and date each approved page.
6. After each page has been approved, place that page outside the witness's reach (in a
briefcase?)."
"Is it acceptable to buy a meal for a witness? - CORRECT ANSWER=> Yes, but it should be a simple
meal, and it is never acceptable to buy alcohol for a witness or to drink alcohol in the presence
of a witness."
"Which form of statement is more useful for cooperative witnesses, and which for
uncooperative witnesses? - CORRECT ANSWER=> Declarations are more useful for cooperative
witnesses, as you don't want to lock down their testimony too early. Affidavits are more useful
for uncooperative witnesses, as you want to lock down their testimony as soon as you can."
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, "What is teh main difference between an affidavit and a declaration? - CORRECT ANSWER=>
Affidavits must be signed and sworn to before a notary public."
"What should an investigator do when an interviewee offers an ungrounded opinion? - CORRECT
ANSWER=> Ask the witness to describe the observable facts that led them to that opinion. (e.g.,
"John was angry," "Why do you believe that?," "He had a raised voice and a red face.")"
"What are "preliminary reports"? - CORRECT ANSWER=> Reports outlining the nature of the
investigation and including the case's goal or problem that needs to be solved. They may
provided to the investigator by the client. They may not even be written down (they may just be
verbal)."
"What are the 3 types of information subjects can reveal during interviews? - CORRECT
ANSWER=> 1. Verbal.
2. Non-verbal.
3. Para-linguistic."
"What is the proper sequence of types of questions to use in an investigative interview? -
CORRECT ANSWER=> First, open questions (infinite responses). Second, open-clarifying
questions. Third, closed questions (like Yes/No questions)."
"What is the test for whether information given by a subject was given under duress or not? -
CORRECT ANSWER=> Whether the subject actually made a request to leave, and whether that
request was denied."
"Is it ever permissible for an investigator to request that a subject not take a break that they
have asked for? - CORRECT ANSWER=> Yes, but only if the investigator gently tries to dissuade the
subject from taking the break, because the investigator has concern that the break will stunt the
interview's momentum."
"What must an investigator always allow a subject to do during an interview? - CORRECT
ANSWER=> * Must allow the subject to take breaks if they insist.
* Must allow the subject to end the interview if they wish.
* Must allow the subject to physically leave the space or area (i.e., do not put your body
between the subject and the exit).
Otherwise, the subject may claim that their info was given under duress, or that they were
falsely imprisoned."
Page | 3
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS 100% VERIFIED
NEWEST VERSION
"What is "entrapment"? - CORRECT ANSWER=> Suggesting, or leading a subject into, unethical or
illegal behavior that the subject otherwise would not have done."
"May a private investigator use undercover methods when working for an attorney during active
litigation? - CORRECT ANSWER=> No."
"Should cooperative or uncooperative witnesses be interviewed in detail first? And why? -
CORRECT ANSWER=> Cooperative witnesses should be interviewed first, because they can
provide the investigator with general information that can then be used to challenge, and
extract details from, uncooperative witnesses."
"If, while approving and signing the pages of an affidavit or declaration, the witness changes
their mind, what happens to those pages that have already been approved or signed? - CORRECT
ANSWER=> The investigator may keep those pages that the witness has already approved and
signed, and use them in the case."
"What is the difference between covert and overt surveillance? - CORRECT ANSWER=> "Covert"
means observing the subject from a safe distance where the observer will not be easily
recognized. "Over" means observing the subject from a much closer distance, and does not hide
the fact that they are physically observing the subject, but uses a ruse or cover for doing so."
"What is "response latency"? - CORRECT ANSWER=> The delay between when a question ends,
and when the subject starts to respond. (Greater latency tends to indicate deception.)"
"What is "listing"? - CORRECT ANSWER=> When an untruthful subject rattles off a clearly-
rehearsed narrative of an account, often with numbered or lettered bullet points."
Page | 1
,"What are the 4 possible categories of responses a subject may use to respond to a question
posed by an investigator? - CORRECT ANSWER=> 1. Telling the truth.
2. Omitting all or part of the truth.
3. Evading the truth by verbal implication.
4. Outright lying."
"What is a "qualifier"? - CORRECT ANSWER=> Anything (word, phrase, sentence) that lessens a
subject's commitment to their answer."
"What is an "alternative question"? - CORRECT ANSWER=> A type of admission-seeking question
in which the investigator poses 2 different scenarios to the subject and asks them which one is
correct. (Both responses are admissions of guilt, but one paints the subject in a more favorable
light than the other.)"
"Are affidavits and declarations obtained before or after the conclusion of the interview and the
completion of the interview report? - CORRECT ANSWER=> After both the completion of the
interview and the completion of the interview report."
"After drawing up a verbatim statement, what are the 6 things an investigator should do with
the witness? - CORRECT ANSWER=> 1. Show the statement to the witness and read it together,
word by word.
2. Ask the witness if they want to make any changes.
3. Cross out any words to be removed and add new words above the line.
4. Have witness initial any changes.
5. Have witness sign and date each approved page.
6. After each page has been approved, place that page outside the witness's reach (in a
briefcase?)."
"Is it acceptable to buy a meal for a witness? - CORRECT ANSWER=> Yes, but it should be a simple
meal, and it is never acceptable to buy alcohol for a witness or to drink alcohol in the presence
of a witness."
"Which form of statement is more useful for cooperative witnesses, and which for
uncooperative witnesses? - CORRECT ANSWER=> Declarations are more useful for cooperative
witnesses, as you don't want to lock down their testimony too early. Affidavits are more useful
for uncooperative witnesses, as you want to lock down their testimony as soon as you can."
Page | 2
, "What is teh main difference between an affidavit and a declaration? - CORRECT ANSWER=>
Affidavits must be signed and sworn to before a notary public."
"What should an investigator do when an interviewee offers an ungrounded opinion? - CORRECT
ANSWER=> Ask the witness to describe the observable facts that led them to that opinion. (e.g.,
"John was angry," "Why do you believe that?," "He had a raised voice and a red face.")"
"What are "preliminary reports"? - CORRECT ANSWER=> Reports outlining the nature of the
investigation and including the case's goal or problem that needs to be solved. They may
provided to the investigator by the client. They may not even be written down (they may just be
verbal)."
"What are the 3 types of information subjects can reveal during interviews? - CORRECT
ANSWER=> 1. Verbal.
2. Non-verbal.
3. Para-linguistic."
"What is the proper sequence of types of questions to use in an investigative interview? -
CORRECT ANSWER=> First, open questions (infinite responses). Second, open-clarifying
questions. Third, closed questions (like Yes/No questions)."
"What is the test for whether information given by a subject was given under duress or not? -
CORRECT ANSWER=> Whether the subject actually made a request to leave, and whether that
request was denied."
"Is it ever permissible for an investigator to request that a subject not take a break that they
have asked for? - CORRECT ANSWER=> Yes, but only if the investigator gently tries to dissuade the
subject from taking the break, because the investigator has concern that the break will stunt the
interview's momentum."
"What must an investigator always allow a subject to do during an interview? - CORRECT
ANSWER=> * Must allow the subject to take breaks if they insist.
* Must allow the subject to end the interview if they wish.
* Must allow the subject to physically leave the space or area (i.e., do not put your body
between the subject and the exit).
Otherwise, the subject may claim that their info was given under duress, or that they were
falsely imprisoned."
Page | 3
