The peace model of investigative interviewing: a comparison of trained and untrained suspect interviewers

Barron, W. Todd (2017) The peace model of investigative interviewing: a comparison of trained and untrained suspect interviewers. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The peformance of police interviewers trained to use a science-based interviewing protocol – known as PEACE – was compared to interviewers who were not trained. Specifically, a sample of real-life suspect interviews by PEACE-trained (n = 25) and untrained (n = 27) interviewers were coded for the existence of engage and explain behaviours, police cautions and charter rights, question types, coercive tactics, evidence-based challenges, along with interview (confessions and information provision) and court (pleas, convictions) outcomes. Results showed that PEACE-trained interviewers used significantly more engage and explain behaviours, and fewer coercive tactics. Trained interviewers were found to use more open-ended questions, more clarifications, more statements, and fewer leading questions and facilitators. Results also showed that people interviewed by trained interviewers provided significantly greater amounts of information than those interviewed by untrained interviewers. It was also found that there were few differences in the administration of legal rights, confession rates, and court outcomes between trained and untrained interviewers. The effect of PEACE training on investigative interviewing and truth-seeking is discussed.

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