Which interviewing approach helps elicit reliable information without prompting false confessions?

• A. Build rapport, use open-ended questions, avoid leading prompts, and observe nonverbal cues.
• B. Use leading questions to trap lies.
• C. Confront the interviewee with accusations to prompt confession.
• D. Rely solely on yes/no questions.

Answer: (A)

In interviewing, the best way to elicit reliable information without prompting false confessions is to build rapport, ask open-ended questions, avoid leading prompts, and observe nonverbal cues. Building rapport reduces anxiety and defensiveness, helping the interviewee share accurate details. Open-ended questions invite a fuller, self-structured account, which minimizes the risk of guiding responses or implanting details. Avoiding leading prompts prevents inadvertent suggestion that can distort memory or pressure a confession. Paying attention to nonverbal cues adds another layer of understanding about credibility and consistency when used alongside what is said, not in isolation.

Leading questions aimed at trapping someone can push them toward answers they think the interviewer wants, increasing the chance of false confessions. Confronting with accusations often triggers defensiveness, yielding unreliable statements. Relying only on yes/no questions limits information and can miss important nuances, making it harder to judge what actually happened.