Professional Development Webinar: Effective Interviewing With Jason Lawrence
This month’s PICA Professional Development webinar featured special guest, Mr Jason Lawrence. Jason is a former senior police detective and has also worked in an investigative capacity with one of the world’s biggest mining companies. He now consults to organisations in building investigative capability and conducting effective interviewing, amongst other things.
Jason spoke to participants about the importance of interviewing and, in particular, investigative (or cognitive) interviewing, also referred to as “conversation management.” The way in which modern professional investigators interview people is very different to the traditional approach, where an interviewer had a pre-determined set of questions.
Other key features of the webinar included discussions about some key elements of investigative interviewing including:
- The importance of rapport and how to effectively establish trust
- The skill of active listening
- The value of obtaining an open narrative
- How to ask the right questions using the TEDS technique
- Probing questions
- How to assist interviewees with memory recall and detail
Whilst difficult to go into any depth, this month’s webinar gave participants an insight into the best practice ways to conduct interviews. Mr Landers encouraged students to learn more, particularly about the PEACE Model of interviewing.
PICA’s professional development series are part of a commitment to continuing learning and providing career pathways for students. Each month features an industry/subject expert passing on their knowledge and answering questions.