The origin, experimental basis, and application of the standard interview method: An information‐gathering framework

Abstract

Objectives

The standard interview method (SIM) is a guidance framework for information gathering interviews. This article describes the purpose, scope, origin, experimental basis, and practical application of the SIM. It provides an informative overview of developments to date for psychologists and researchers within the behavioural sciences, as well as for practitioners who might use the SIM. The SIM contains core evidence‐based components but is otherwise open to tailoring and modifications to suit a variety of interviewing purposes such as policing, justice, education, and business. It provides an interview structure and exemplar dialogue, aligned with research into best‐practice interview technique.

Method

A detailed overview of the SIM's interview phases, instructions, and exemplar dialogue is provided. The basis for these elements is explained in terms of the experimental and qualitative research that has informed their development.

Results

The SIM provides evidence‐based guidance for investigative interviewers, and numerous versions have been created to suit different investigation types, interviewee groups, and jurisdictional or organisational requirements. It is continually refined as new findings from experimental research around best‐practice interviewing emerge.

Conclusions

Rather than a single entity or completed product, the SIM represents a dynamic evolution of research, collaboration, and testing. Its flexible nature will allow it to keep pace with the ever‐progressing knowledge base that informs interview protocol and guidance development, and adapt to local cultures, legislation, processes, and systems of operation.

Key words:

• evidence‐based practice
• interview guidelines
• interview protocol
• interview structure
• investigative interviewing
• practice‐based evidence

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to all the police, prosecutors, and practitioners who have provided feedback about variations of the Standard Interview Method. Thanks to Mairi Benson and Kimberlee Burrows for data collection when this work was in its infancy.

Notes

i Standard interview is a term sometimes used to refer to a poor (closed‐style) questioning that has frequently been observed in field interviews. 'Standard' in this prior literature means ‘typical’ as opposed to best‐practice.

ii A story framework facilitates comprehension of the listener by including elements such as the setting, the initiating and central actions, motivations and goals, internal responses and consequences in a manner that enables the relationships between events and actors to be clearly labelled (Stein & Glenn, 1979).