ABSTRACT

Memory is facilitated by reflecting upon, or revisiting, the environment in which information was encoded. We investigated these “context reinstatement” (CR) techniques to improve the effectiveness of facial composites – visual likenesses of a perpetrator’s face constructed by eyewitnesses. Participant-constructors viewed a face and, after a one-day-delay, revisited (Physical CR) or recalled the environmental context (Mental/Detailed CR) before recalling the face and constructing an EvoFIT or a PRO-fit composite. Detailed CR increased correct naming of ensuing composites, but only when participant-constructors suitably encoded the environment. Detailed CR was also effective when combined with another interviewing technique (Holistic-Cognitive Interview), with focus on a target’s character; it was no more effective prompting constructors to engage in greater environmental recall. Analyses indicate that the Detailed CR advantage was mediated by an increase in face recall. Results are applicable by forensic practitioners to aid eyewitness memory, thereby potentially increasing suspect identification and subsequent arrest rates.

摘要

通过反思或重新审视编码信息的环境来促进存储。我们研究了这些“上下文恢复”（CR）技术，以提高面部合成的有效性-目击者构造的犯罪者面部的视觉相似性。参与者构造者查看了一张面孔，并在一天的延迟后重新进行了（物理CR）或回顾了环境环境（“心理/详细CR”），然后再回忆该面孔并构建EvoFIT或PRO-fit复合材料。详细的CR可以增加后续复合材料的正确命名，但前提是参与方构造函数必须对环境进行适当编码。当结合另一种以目标人物的性格为重点的访谈技术（整体-认知访谈）时，详细的CR也是有效的。提示建设者更多地召回环境并没有多有效。分析表明，详细CR优势是由面部回想力增加所介导的。法医从业人员可利用这些结果来帮助目击者记忆，从而有可能增加犯罪嫌疑人的识别率和随后的逮捕率。