Page 220 - Deception at work all chapters EBook

Planning Tough Interviews 221

DELIVERY OF QUESTIONS

Often questions have a much greater impact on the subject if they are delivered in conjunction
with a visual and emotional stimulation, such as simultaneously handing him an incriminat-
ing piece of evidence or requiring him to look at a chart, physical object or picture. For this
reason, it is a good idea to have every key point that supports the deception theory summa-
rized on single pieces of paper which can be presented to the suspect at the appropriate time
and kept within his personal space and in his right field of vision (see page [xref]).

Try and keep incriminating evidence within the suspect’s personal space and field of vision

Some interviewers like to use checklists which set the questions they plan to ask. Although
in some circumstances this approach may be useful12, it tends to make the interview too rigid
and, for this reason, fails. A checklist may be referred to at the end of an interview, and before
the subject leaves, to make sure you have covered everything you should. Lists may be used in
formal interviews where you simply want to give the subject the chance to explain.

Assemble key points in the order that you will deal with them

For complex interviews, it is usually better to assemble all of the papers (summary single
pages, exhibits, schedules etc.) in the order in which you plan to cover them and flag them
with highly coloured ‘Post-it’ notes summarizing the key points and other matters you want
the subject to explain.

If the documents can be assembled in voluminous files, so much the better, as these will
make it clear to the subject that he has a great deal to answer and thus increase his anxiety.

Increase the visual impact of documents

NOTE TAKING

Taking detailed notes during an interview is a very bad practice (see page [xref]) and should
be avoided at all costs. The detailed reasons for this, and alternative solutions are explained in
pages [xref] and [xref]. But please remember, from now on, that you chances of getting to the
deep truth are significantly reduced if the suspect sees you, or anyone else, writing detailed
notes. In any case, detailed note taking is usually no more than a displacement activity by
inexperienced interviewers. It is really bad practice.

Note taking disturbs the subject

BODY LANGUAGE AND PARALINGUISTICS

You must remain consciously aware of the way in which you ask questions and the effect
your body language has on the subject. Try to deliver questions clearly, without prevarication
and with real commitment. Try to make sure that your body language and channels of com-
munication are consistent with the transactional role you are adopting (see page [xref]). This

12 Especially for elimination interviews (see page xxx)