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Development and testing of a Time-Critical Questioning protocol for eliciting information in time-sensitive contexts
Lorraine Hope1, Feni Kontogianni2, Wayne Thomas3
1Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, King Henry I Street, Portsmouth, PO1 2DY, UK. Lorraine.Hope@port.ac.uk.
Scientific Reports
|April 28, 2025
Summary
A new Time-Critical Questioning (TCQ) protocol helps interviewers quickly gather crucial information. This method proved effective in time-sensitive situations, yielding more priority details faster than traditional interviews.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Applied Research
Background:
- Effective information gathering is vital in time-sensitive operational settings.
- Existing interviewing practices lack scientific grounding and empirical data.
- A gap exists in research concerning rapid information retrieval in high-pressure contexts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a Time-Critical Questioning (TCQ) protocol for time-sensitive interviewing.
- To enhance rapport, align interviewer-interviewee goals, and promote priority information reporting.
- To implement effective questioning techniques supporting memory retrieval under pressure.
Main Methods:
- A two-part protocol was developed, including I-RELATE framing instructions and structured follow-up questions.
- An immersive methodology was employed, involving an Escape Room activity.
- Participants (N=142) were interviewed using either the TCQ protocol or a control interview.
Main Results:
- The TCQ protocol resulted in reporting more correct priority information compared to the control interview.
- Participants using the TCQ protocol provided information more rapidly, particularly during the free recall phase.
- Expedient information gain was observed, suggesting utility in time-critical scenarios.
Conclusions:
- The Time-Critical Questioning (TCQ) protocol effectively enhances information recall in time-sensitive contexts.
- The protocol's components facilitate quicker retrieval of essential details.
- TCQ offers a psychologically informed approach for operational interviewing.
