Workplace investigations depend on more than policy and paperwork. They depend on communication, sound interviewing, and the ability to gather reliable information when tensions are high. This article explains how science-based interviewing helps HR, corporate security, compliance, and internal investigators conduct fairer, more thorough, and more defensible investigations through better questions, active listening, rapport, and evidence-based methods.

What investigators often call luck is usually better information gathering. Science-based interviewing helps create that edge through better questions, stronger rapport, and Strategic Use of Evidence (SUE). Statement evidence gives context to every case, helps locate more witnesses and evidence, and moves investigators closer to the truth. Good interviews do more than confirm theories. They build a fuller picture of events and help define the case.

Science-Based Interviewing is not new, but the evidence supporting it is stronger than ever. While research consistently shows that information-gathering approaches outperform accusatory, confession-driven tactics, outdated interrogation methods continue to dominate training rooms. This article examines why legacy practices persist, the risks they create, and how evidence-based interviewing improves accuracy, cooperation, and investigative outcomes.

Science-based interviewing (SBI) is transforming modern investigations by prioritizing information over confession. Built on memory science and research-backed questioning, SBI produces more accurate, detailed, and cooperative interviews than legacy accusatory methods. Through humor and memes, this article highlights how SBI outperforms outdated tactics, improves case outcomes, and replaces pseudoscience with proven investigative practice.

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

Science-Based Interviewing focuses on gathering accurate, unbiased information—but some common questions quietly sabotage that goal. Self-handicapping questions like “Were you a witness?” embed assumptions that cause people to self-exclude, cutting off valuable information before it emerges. This article explains how these questions harm investigations, why they persist, and how open-ended, information-generating prompts protect investigative integrity.

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.

Interviewing can be one of the most intimidating parts of an investigator’s job, especially for those who are new to their role. Whether...

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. The training is not good. 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

Success in high-stakes situations, such as criminal cases, compliance interviews, or HR investigations, requires more than just asking the right questions. It’s about asking the right questions for the right reasons, in the right way. That requires more than instinct or experience; it calls for strategic preparation. Integrating red teaming , setting clear interview objectives , and crafting a strategic questioning plan  can elevate any investigation from routine to remarkab

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

Interrogation is a term loaded with negative associations, often conjuring images of rapid questions, an aggressive tone, and a power-driven agenda. This misconception is reinforced by misguided advice online, with Google AI's search suggestions promoting techniques like "dominance" and "direct confrontation," which belong to outdated, confession-focused accusatory practices. They legacy practices risk contaminating evidence, producing fake case information, and reinforcing b

Rapport is a critical but often underused soft skill in investigative interviewing. Defined as a smooth, positive interpersonal interaction, rapport increases trust, cooperation, and the amount of accurate information provided by witnesses and other information sources. Research shows that effective rapport-building leads to better disclosure and reduced resistance, yet many law enforcement and private sector interviewers fail to apply rapport consistently.

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

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

Mastering the art of ethical interrogation requires a blend of skill, strategy, and dumping of antiquated interrogation techniques....

Effective investigative interviewing is one of the strongest determinants of case success. Research shows that eyewitness and subject statements often shape whether cases are solved, making interview quality critical. Science-Based Interviewing (SBI) prioritizes information gathering over confessions or lie detection, using open-ended questions, active listening, and rapport to elicit more detailed, reliable accounts. This article explores how these evidence-based techniques

Are you ready to take your interviewing skills to the next level? After all, interviews are the most important part of any investigation....

How the active listening skill of reflecting helps increase rapport and information disclosure.