The efficacy of the Self-Administered Interview in minimising the misinformation effect

Abstract

Two experiments investigated the efficacy of the Self-Administered Interview (SAI) in immediate recall and minimising misinformation into later recall. In Experiment 1, participants (N = 114) viewed a reconstructed crime video and completed the SAI, Written Free Recall (WFR), or no recall for immediate recall, followed by a Delayed Recall questionnaire 1-to-2 weeks later. Experiment 2 replicated the procedure, except after the delay, participants (N = 141) were exposed to misinformation before Delayed Recall. Across both experiments, the SAI enhanced immediate memory, particularly for person details, compared to WFR. However, this initial enhancement did not lead to more correct information after the delay, although it reduced incorrect responses compared to no immediate recall. Surprisingly, neither the SAI nor the WFR reduced susceptibility to misinformation. The findings suggest completing an SAI immediately or soon after witnessing an event could enhance memory recall, reinforcing its potential utility for witnesses.