Seeking volunteer interviewers for study on interpreting in witness interviews

Who can participate?

Police officers, security professionals, investigators, lawyers, intelligence professionals, workplace investigators. If you gather evidence from people using investigative interviews you can participate.

The key value of participation is increased cultural literacy at an individual and organizational level. Participation will enhance staff knowledge, skills and cultural competence when working with interpreters and linguistic minorities.

Participating interviewers:

  • Learn what interpreters do, how they work, about the interpreting code of ethics and differences between simultaneous and consecutive interpreting.
  • Are trained on core best practice interview methods: free recall, rapport-building, attentive listening, context reinstatement and witness memory.
  • Practice a zoom interview with a professional interpreter and live witness.

Training commitment for participants is 3 hours:

  • At their own pace, within 3 days, interviewers complete a 2-hour online training course on how to work with an interpreter and best practice interviewing. This can be divided into 3 x 45-minute sessions.
  • At a convenient time, interviewers conduct a 15-30 minute zoom interview with a witness about a neighborhood incident.
  • Answer online questions about interpreting, interviewing, their impressions of the interview and witness, plus demographics (age, gender, experience, etc.).

After training, interviewers receive:

  • Their individual scores on a multiple choice test of interpreting and interviewing so they know how they did.
  • A certificate of course completion for 3 hours of professional development.

To participate, please email interview.research@newcastle.edu.au with the subject heading INTERVIEWER STUDY. Include your email address so a member of the research team can contact you to arrange your participation.

  • All personal details remain strictly confidential.
  • Best practice guides on working with interpreters and effective interviewing.