The Investigative Interview Institute® (I³)

The Original Cognitive Interview®

A Foundational Scientific Methodology in Evidence-Based Human Information Gathering

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The Original Cognitive Interview (OCI), developed by Dr. R. Edward Geiselman and colleagues, represents one of the most influential advances in investigative interviewing and applied cognitive psychology. Grounded in decades of experimental research on human memory, the methodology transformed the way professionals obtain information from individuals who have experienced significant events by demonstrating that interview structure can substantially influence the completeness, accuracy, and reliability of recalled information.

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Rather than relying primarily on interviewer-directed questioning, the Original Cognitive Interview applies scientifically validated memory retrieval principles that encourage witnesses and other information providers to reconstruct their experiences using methods consistent with the natural organization and retrieval of human memory. The methodology emphasizes ethical, non-leading interviewing practices designed to facilitate memory retrieval while minimizing interviewer influence and reducing the potential for post-event information contamination.

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The Original Cognitive Interview established an important shift in professional practice by recognizing that effective interviewing depends not only upon the questions asked, but upon understanding how human memory is encoded, stored, and retrieved. This scientific perspective continues to influence investigative interviewing, witness interviewing, and professional information gathering across numerous disciplines throughout the world.

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Today, the Original Cognitive Interview remains a foundational methodology for professionals seeking to obtain accurate, complete, and ethically acquired information from human sources. Its scientific principles continue to inform contemporary research, educational programs, and professional practice across public safety and justice, aviation, healthcare, human services, military and intelligence, corporate investigations, and other high-consequence environments where the quality and integrity of human information directly influence critical decisions.

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At The Investigative Interview Institute (I³), the Original Cognitive Interview is presented not only as an historically significant methodology, but as a continuing scientific foundation for understanding evidence-based human information gathering. Participants gain both an appreciation for the research that established the methodology and an understanding of its enduring relevance within modern professional practice.

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• 1970s–1980s — Foundational research in cognitive psychology and memory retrieval.

• Original Cognitive Interview — Initial development and scientific validation.

• Enhanced Cognitive Interview — Expanded methodology and practical refinement.

• The Veritas Method® — Integration within a broader educational framework for evidence-based human information gathering.