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Please submit the answers (50 words each) for each of the following questions:
1. Provide three of Joe Well’s ten commandments for effective interviewing.
Watch non verbal behavior; When asking questions, it’s easy to get caught up in what is being
said and to ignore how the person says it. Behaviorists claim more than half of
communication is nonverbal. People have a natural body language when they’re relaxed,
but act differently when stressed. You must therefore observe how someone reacts to easy
questions, and then measure the differences—if any—when the questioning gets tougher.
This process is called calibration and is an integral part of assessing a witness’s
truthfulness
Pace your questions. Let the interview flow naturally, progressing from the easy to the
tough questions. Before you get to the “meat” of your interview, establish a rapport with the
person. The timing must be right before you start asking important questions. If you don’t
spend enough time warming up your subject, he or she will be less forthcoming; if you take
too long, the person is likely to be put off and become suspicious.
get it in writing Many people confess to their misdeeds in the heat of the moment when you
are questioning them. That’s the time to get the confession down in writing. To avoid
wrongful accusations, don’t confront your subject unless you are convinced you have
enough evidence to prove your case even without a confession. There is usually no more
powerful evidence of wrongdoing than a person affixing his or her own signature to a written
confession. But sometimes interviewers will obtain an oral admission and fail to get it on
paper.
2. Why are introductory questions so important to an interview’s success?
Introductory questions serve four primary purposes: providing an introduction, establishing a
rapport between you and the subject, establishing the theme of the interview, and observing the
subject’s reactions.
3. Why shouldn’t an interviewer use closed or leading questions during the information-
gathering phase of the interview?
Closed Questions Closed questions are those that limit the possible responses by requiring a
precise answer—usually “yes” or “no.” (“Did you approve this vendor?”) Closed questions are
also used to deal with specifics, such as amounts, dates, and times. (“On what day of the week
did it happen?”) Generally, closed questions should be avoided in the informational part of the
interview. (They are used extensively in the closing phase.) Leading Questions Leading
questions contain the answer as a part of the question. They are usually used to confirm facts that
are already known. An example of a leading question is: “There have been no changes in the
operation since last year, have there?” This type of question gives the subject much less room to
maneuver than an open question such as, “What changes have been made in the operation since
last year?” Notice how the leading question directs the subject to answer in a particular way. It
implies that you already know the answer, and asks the subject to confirm it. The open question
allows more latitude, allowing the subject to make any comments he or she wants about changes
in the operation. The closed question narrows the subject’s options a bit, but it still allows the
subject to confirm or deny that changes have been made. Leading questions can be particularly
effective in obtaining confessions or getting subjects to make unpleasant admissions.
4. What is the primary purpose of admission-seeking questions?
Admission-seeking questions are reserved specifically for individuals whose culpability is
reasonably certain. It is at this point that a suspect becomes a subject. These questions are posed
in a precise order designed to (1) clear an innocent person or (2) encourage the culpable person
to confess. Admissionseeking questions have at least three purposes. The first is to distinguish
the innocent from the culpable. A culpable individual frequently will confess during the
admission-seeking phase of an interview, while an innocent person will not do so unless threats
or coercion are used. In some instances, the only way to differentiate the culpable from the
innocent is to seek an admission of guilt. The second purpose is to obtain a valid confession.
Confessions, under the law, must be voluntarily obtained. The importance of a valid and binding
confession to wrongdoing cannot be overstated. The third purpose of the admission-seeking
phase is to obtain from the confessor a written statement acknowledging the facts. Although oral
confessions are legally as binding as written ones, the written statement has greater credibility. It
also discourages a person from later attempting to recant.
5. Why is it advisable to obtain a written confession from the subject of an investigation?
At the conclusion of the admission-seeking interview, it is best for you to obtain a written
confession from the subject, if possible. As was discussed earlier, a written statement has greater
credibility than an oral confession, and it discourages a culpable person from later attempting to
recant. The information to be included in the signed statement is essentially the same as that
