EVALUATION OF MEMON AND HIGHAM
Validity:
• Validity of research by fisher et al. Is high as they used a blind procedure.
• He also tested the CI in the field, which means the research was conducted in
everyday surroundings.
• This meant they had no control over extraneous variables, lowering validity.
Reliability:
• Standardized approach of the CI to collecting evidence means that the witness
testimonies collected by fisher are reliable.
• In contrast the standard interviews used by the police adopts a less standardized
approach to interviewing
Sampling bias:
• Sample used in the research critiqued by Memon and Higham often used children of
primary school age.
• However, the results have been partially replicated using adults, this suggests that it
can be generalized that each of the CP, CO and RE conditions is not as effective as
the full CI.
Ethnocentrism:
• CI system is developed based on the western perspective of police interviewing.
• There is a presumption that the police, the suspect, and the witnesses who are
involved in the interview should tell the truth in all situations.
• Such "truth telling" may not be universal as research shows there is a cultural
difference between western and non-western cultures.
• CI may not be an appropriate method to use in all cultures it could be an imposed-
etic.
Links to debates:
Free will vs determinism:
Validity:
• Validity of research by fisher et al. Is high as they used a blind procedure.
• He also tested the CI in the field, which means the research was conducted in
everyday surroundings.
• This meant they had no control over extraneous variables, lowering validity.
Reliability:
• Standardized approach of the CI to collecting evidence means that the witness
testimonies collected by fisher are reliable.
• In contrast the standard interviews used by the police adopts a less standardized
approach to interviewing
Sampling bias:
• Sample used in the research critiqued by Memon and Higham often used children of
primary school age.
• However, the results have been partially replicated using adults, this suggests that it
can be generalized that each of the CP, CO and RE conditions is not as effective as
the full CI.
Ethnocentrism:
• CI system is developed based on the western perspective of police interviewing.
• There is a presumption that the police, the suspect, and the witnesses who are
involved in the interview should tell the truth in all situations.
• Such "truth telling" may not be universal as research shows there is a cultural
difference between western and non-western cultures.
• CI may not be an appropriate method to use in all cultures it could be an imposed-
etic.
Links to debates:
Free will vs determinism:
