Science-Based Interviewing puts investigators back in control by grounding interviews in peer-reviewed research rather than intuition, tradition, or pseudoscientific lie detection. This article shows where to find open-access research on interviewing, interrogation, memory, deception, and false confessions—allowing investigators to read the evidence for themselves, verify claims, reduce investigative risk, and strengthen decision-making through transparent, evidence-based pra

If I could go back and talk to my younger self as a new police officer, I'd have some words of advice: Slow down. Listen more. Police work is all about the interview (especially then!). When I started out, I wanted to chase and catch the bad guys. I wanted to clean up the mean streets and I was lucky enough to work in the same Patrol Bureau where I grew up. That meant something to me. If I am able to apprehend sufficient offenders and bring them into the county jail, I will h

Science-Based Interviewing (SBI) must come before Artificial Intelligence (AI) in policing. Pseudoscientific lie detection and accusatory tactics feed garbage into investigations, and AI will only amplify those errors. Evidence-based SBI—rapport, active listening, open-ended questions—produces reliable, information-rich statements. That’s the data AI can actually use to strengthen cases and build trust in the information age of policing.

For years, we’ve discussed interviews and interrogations, and that legacy techniques were the standard. We have relied on these outdated methods for too long. In fact they actually undermine our ability to gather reliable information. This is especially true in confession-driven approaches. The idea behind these tactics is that if a suspect denies involvement early, they’re less likely to confess later. But the problem here isn’t just the techniques; it’s the overall strategy

In science-based interviewing, mastering the art of questioning is not just a skill—it's a necessity. How do you ensure that the...

A quick way to add interview and interrogation research to your Kindle for easy access.

Investigators rely on memory as evidence, yet memory is vulnerable to distortion through post-event information and poorly framed questions. Research on the misinformation effect shows how leading questions, social influence, and timing can alter recall. Science-Based Interviewing (SBI) protects memory integrity by prioritizing early interviews, witness separation, free narratives, and the strategic use of evidence to gather accurate, reliable statement evidence.

The High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group (HIG) serves as a critical interagency effort within the U.S. government, bringing together intelligence professionals, operational interrogators, and academic researchers to advance the science and practice of interrogation. Established in 2009 under the direction of Barack Obama, the HIG was created to ensure that interrogation practices are effective, ethical, and grounded in empirical research. Since its creation, the HIG has su

In the world of law enforcement, corporate investigations, and criminal investigations, the skills and strategies employed during interviews and interrogations are crucial for gathering reliable information and solving cases. This article presents an extensive glossary of terms, jargon, acronyms, and slang commonly used in these critical processes. It’s important to note that while some terms describe effective and ethically sound techniques, such as Science-Based Interviewin

Confirmation bias is predictable—but not unavoidable. Left unchecked, it distorts interviews, weakens investigations, and jeopardizes outcomes. Science-Based Interviewing (SBI) offers a practical path forward by using red teaming to challenge assumptions, test hypotheses, and counter confirmation bias and other cognitive errors. Through structured critical thinking, SBI strengthens objectivity, protects case integrity, and supports ethical, evidence-driven decision-making.

Open-ended questions are foundational to science-based interviewing because they elicit free narratives that reveal unknown unknowns—information investigators could not anticipate or know to ask about in advance. These narratives allow investigators to be surprised, opening new lines of inquiry, better follow-up questions, and more case-relevant data than closed or leading questions ever produce.

Science-based investigative interviewing is the modern standard for truth-seeking. Interviews remain the primary engine of information gathering, beginning with patrol and continuing through complex investigations. Rapport and active listening are not “soft skills” but high-stakes tools proven to increase cooperation and disclosure while reducing error. Great interviews discover evidence, expose contradictions, identify witnesses, and provide vital context. Information is the