Interviewing and Interrogation
Current Research Projects
Schoolhouse Interrogations: Perspectives from Principals and Students
FUNDING AGENCY: The National Institute of Justice Gradaute Fellowship
PI: Talley Bettens
In this two-phased project, we examine the practices and consequences of principal-led intrviews and interrogations of guilty and innocent high school students from multiple diverse perspectives. Study 1 survey with an embedded vignette experiment with high school principals who will report their interrogation-related practices, knowledge, and training, in addition to their perceptions of student confessions from guilty and innocent students. Study 2 is an experimental survey with high school students who will give their confession decisions and perceptions of coercion and custody when (hypothetically) questioned by their principal about misconduct. This project is Talley Bettens' doctoral dissertation research, which is funded by a Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Institute of Justice.
Publications
Bettens, T. (2024). The risks and consequences of innocence in school discipline: Implications for policy and research. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 30(3) 260-272.
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Bettens, T., & Normile, C. (2023). Concerns and recommendations regarding the training of school administrators in interrogating students. Psychology, Crime & Law, 30(10), 1358-1377.
Parental Perceptions of School Interrogations: Effects of Interrogator Role and Misconduct Severity
In this online experiment, we examined parents' perceptions of interrogations of adolescents conducted in the school setting. Specifically, we tested whether parents' views of fairness, custody, and confession validity differed when a school principal led the questioning or a school resource officer, and when the student was questioned about severe or minor misconduct. This study is led by Talley Bettens in collaboration with Dr. Chris Normile (Allegheny College). ​
The Relationship between Attachment Styles and the Decision to Confess
In this laboratory study, we use the cheating paradigm to investigate individual differences that might influence the decision to confess to an act not committed (i.e., falsely confess). Specifically, we test whether attachment styles--an individual difference measure that captures our general approach to social relationships--predict false confessions. We also are investigating potential mediating variables, such as belief in a just world and suggestibility, that could explain how attachment styles influence the decision to falsely confess. This study is led by Lakia Faison and Mary Catlin. ​
Interrogator Tactics that Influence Changing Miranda Decisions
In this exploratory study, we examine if and under what circumstances mock-suspects will change their Miranda decisions. In the United States, all suspects must be read their Miranda rights. These rights include the commonly known right to a lawyer and right to silence. However, suspects also have the right to change their Miranda decision at any time. Little research has examined when a suspect might change their Miranda decision. Therefore, the current study is testing whether common interrogator tactics cause mock-suspects to change their Miranda decision. This project is led by Suraiya Shammi.​​​​
Past Funded Research Projects
Interrogation Tactics and Study Methodology: Meta-Analyses
In these complimentary projects, we apply meta-analytic techniques to interrogation research. In the first project, we examine the influence of interrogation technique on the frequency of true and false confessions. A movement has been growing amongst scholars and practitioners to move away from the U.S. accusatorial approach to the PEACE model of interrogation started in the United Kingdom. This first meta-analysis offers a quantitative comparison of the two techniques to determine which is better at increasing true confessions while decreasing false confessions. In the second project, we look more closely at an experimental methodology known as the “cheating paradigm.” This second meta-analysis looks at what happens to confession rates when participants who were supposed to be innocent cheated and when those who were supposed to be guilty refused to cheat. These efforts are led by Mary Catlin.
​Publications
Catlin, M., Wilson, D. B., Redlich, A. D., Bettens, T., Meissner, C. A., Bhatt, S., & Brandon, S. (2024). Interview and interrogation methods and their effects on true and false confessions: An update and extension. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 20(4), e1441.
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Redlich, A.D., Catlin, M, & Bettens, T. (2023). Intent-to-treat in the “Cheating” paradigm: A meta-analysis. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 20, 665-681.
Police Investigator Decision-Making in High Profile Cases
FUNDING AGENCY: The National Science Foundation
PI: Skye Woestehoff
In this project, we examined police investigators' decision-making in criminal cases. Specifically, we investigated how the police evaluate evidence in a case and make decisions about a suspect's guilt, and whether investigators' decisions are affected by the suspect's actual guilt status and whether the case is high profile. In a subsequent experiment, we evaluated two potential strategies to improve investigators' decision-making. This project is funded by the National Science Foundation.
Intelligence Interviewing and Interrogation: A Systematic Survey of the US and International Interrogation Communities
FUNDING AGENCY: Federal Bureau of Investigation, High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group (HIG); Subcontract with University of TX, El Paso, PI: Christian A. Meissner
Co-Researchers: Allison Redlich, Christopher Kelly, and Jeanee Miller
The goal of these two projects was to study perceptions of efficacy and the interactions between interrogator, source, and technique characteristics. Military, law enforcement, intelligence, and national security interviewers and interrogators from more than 10 countries were surveyed.
Publications
Kelly, C.J., Russano, M., Miller, J., & Redlich, A.D. (2019). On the road (to admission): Engaging suspects with minimization. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 25, 160-188.
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Kelly, C., Miller, J., & Redlich, A. D. (2016). The dynamic nature of interrogation. Law and Human Behavior, 40, 295-309.
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Kelly, C.E., Redlich, A.D., & Miller, J.C. (2015). Examining the meso-level domains of the interrogation taxonomy. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 21, 179-191.
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​Kelly, C. E., Abdel-Salam, S., Miller, J. C., & Redlich, A. D. (2015). Social identity and the perceived effectiveness of interrogation methods. Investigative Interviewing: Research and Practice, II, 24-41.
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Redlich, A. D., Kelly, C. E., & Miller, J. C. (2014). The who, what, and why of human intelligence gathering: Self-reported measures of interrogation methods. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 28, 817-828.