About Us

The Geiselman Group

In 1975, the RAND Corporation completed a study on criminal-investigations. The study found that the testimony of an eyewitness was an important determinant in whether the case was solved or not. However, it has been found that many eyewitness reports were unreliable as they could be incomplete, partially constructed and vulnerable to suggestions during the interviewing process. Studies have shown that interviewing techniques such as asking leading questions and closed-ended questions can influence the responses given by the interviewee.

Cognitive interviews were developed in 1984 by researchers R. Edward Geiselman, Ronald Fisher and their colleagues in response to the ineffective police interviewing techniques used in the past. Their goal was to suggest methods that increased the accuracies of eyewitness testimony. They found that when participants were trained in memory retrieval techniques, the participants recalled more correct information about an event than occurred on a questionnaire.

They based the techniques on four general memory retrieval rules based on the encoding specificity principle, and the assumption that memory traces are usually complex with various kinds of information. In 1985 Geiselman, Fisher and their colleagues MacKinnon and Holland further showed that the cognitive interview had ecological validity by having participants watch videos of simulated violent crimes. The original concept of the cognitive interview was revised in 1987 by Fisher, Geiselman and their colleagues.

The revisions to the original cognitive interview incorporated the idea of structuring the interview to be more compatible with how the brain retrieves memories. The revised version of the cognitive interview showed an increase of 45 percent in correct information retrieved.

In 1992, Fisher and Geiselman wrote a training manual for investigative services on how to conduct a cognitive interview. The techniques they developed are widely used today by a variety of investigative services such as police departments, private investigators, and attorneys.

In 2023, Dr. Ed Geiselman and Retired Chief Michael W. Albin developed The Verita Method©, a modern interviewing framework that integrates the Enhanced Cognitive Interview (ECI) with the latest peer-reviewed human factors research. This method provides investigators with a scientifically grounded understanding of how vision, attention, perception, emotion, stress, and memory truly function during high-stakes events.

Students learn how these human factors influence both accurate recall and memory gaps, gaining practical, research-based skills they can apply immediately in the field. Through hands-on exercises and foundational science, The Verita Method© equips interviewers to elicit more complete, reliable, and meaningful accounts from their interviews.

Our Story

The Geiselman Group was founded to bring the highest standard of investigative interviewing to the professions that depend on accurate, reliable human information. At the center of our mission is Dr. Ed Geiselman, co-creator of the Enhanced Cognitive Interview (ECI)—one of the most scientifically validated interviewing methodologies in the world.

For the first time, professionals can learn the ECI directly from its originator, gaining insights, depth, and mastery that only a co-creator can provide. This Masterclass experience is available exclusively through The Geiselman Group.

Why Our Training Is Different

For more than four decades, research has shown that the ECI can elicit up to 45% more correct information compared to standard interviewing methods—without increasing errors or confabulations. Students in our program learn these methods exactly as they were designed: grounded in experimental psychology, validated through rigorous peer-reviewed research, and refined through decades of field application. Learning directly from Dr. Geiselman provides unparalleled advantages:

Immediate access to the latest advancements in the methodology
A deep understanding of the science of memory and recall
Insight found nowhere else—except from the person who helped create the technique

The Science Behind the Method

Effective interviewing begins with understanding how human memory works—how experiences are encoded, stored, and retrieved, and how stress or trauma can affect recall. Our program integrates the latest research in memory science, cognitive psychology, and neuroscience to help professionals recover more complete, accurate, and reliable information.

Who Benefits From Our Training Courses

The Enhanced Cognitive Interview supports any profession that relies on accurate recall of past events, especially during stressful or high-stakes situations. Professionals we train include:

Public Safety & Justice

Law enforcement officers
Detectives and criminal investigators
Prosecutors, defense attorneys, and paralegals
Accident and crash investigators

Human Services & Clinical Care

Social workers and victim advocates
Crisis counselors and therapists
Healthcare providers and clinical researchers

Security, Military & Intelligence

Military debriefers
Intelligence personnel
Security and compliance investigators

Business, HR & Research

Human Resources and management teams
Market researchers
Insurance and fraud examiners

Three Benefits That Define The Geiselman Group

1. The Science of Truth

Training grounded in peer-reviewed research, experimental rigor, and decades of validated results.

2. The Professional Standard

Instruction from the co-creator ensures fidelity, accuracy, and adherence to the original principles of the ECI.

3. Maximized Results

Students leave with proven, field-ready skills that immediately improve performance, accuracy, and investigative outcomes.

Measuring Success

We offer agencies pre- and post-training performance metrics, giving organizations a clear, defensible measure of improved interviewing effectiveness and the return on investment in their personnel.

Our Purpose

Our story is simple: to elevate interviewing standards worldwide by teaching the most scientifically validated method directly from its original source. We exist to help professionals uncover truth, reduce error, and strengthen the integrity of every investigation.