Which option represents a NOT core cognitive interviewing technique?

• A. Context reinstatement.
• B. Social dynamics.
• C. Varied recall prompts.
• D. Hypnosis.

Answer: (D)

This item tests which method is not part of the standard cognitive interview toolkit. Context reinstatement is a core move: the witness mentally reconstructs the setting and circumstances of the event to cue details that memory might hold in different contexts. Varied recall prompts are another staple, using different ways of asking questions to elicit more information and reduce forgetting or distortion. Social dynamics refers to how the interviewer builds rapport and manages the interview environment to support accurate recall; while important for a comfortable, cooperative interview, it’s not one of the formal cognitive interview techniques themselves. Hypnosis, however, is not used in the cognitive interview and can distort memory, so it is not considered a core technique.