We often take for granted the things we do naturally - like having a conversation. Just as riding a bike or driving a car becomes second nature, so too does speaking in our native language. We rarely pause to consider the complexities involved. However, when we learn a new language, take up golf, or try to play a musical instrument, we quickly realize there’s a whole new set of skills and knowledge to master.
In his Smarter Every Day you tube video, The Backwards Bicycle, Destin Sandlin demonstrates how introducing an unfamiliar element to a routine activity can completely disrupt performance. He attempts to ride a special bicycle that turns the opposite way from the way the handlebars are moved.
He highlights an important lesson: knowledge does not equal understanding. You can not just provide someone the knowledge and expect them to perform you must aid by providing them the ability to perform and learn to ride the backwards bicycle.
This principle is central to training investigative interviewing. At its core, investigative interviewing is a conversation with a purpose - a method of gathering information in an ethical, structured, and scientifically supported way. Teaching this skill means taking what was once an unconscious ability (simply talking to someone) and introducing elements that demand intentional thought and refinement. Training must include the element of students demonstrating they have internalized that skill.
Conversations Are More Complex Than We Realize
Every day, we engage in countless conversations, yet we often fail to recognize the intricate dynamics at play. Conversations are dynamic coordination games full of micro-decisions as we adjust our words and gestures in real time. However, most of us rarely receive meaningful feedback on how our communication style impacts others.
In our training programs, the scenario-based exercises offer interviewers the opportunity to receive direct feedback. In addition, they not only receive feedback on their own performance but provide feedback evaluating their peers. This reflective practice strengthens awareness and enhances their ability to listen actively, structure questions effectively, and engage meaningfully.
Curiosity: The Key to Effective Interviewing
An initial concept we highlight to interviewers is: What is your investigative mindset?
A common and crucial response to this question is curiosity. Without it, an interviewer risks becoming a ZQ - a “Zero Questioner,” someone who isn’t genuinely interested in the person sitting across from them. Displaying genuine interest helps establish rapport, an essential element in obtaining complete accurate and reliable information from an interviewee.
A related challenge is boomerasking, interviews where questions serve only to steer the conversation back to the interviewer’s own agenda, rather than exploring the interviewee’s perspective. In investigative interviews, this can make interviewees feel unheard, reducing both cooperation and the quality of the information gathered.
This is distinct from conversation management, which is a structured approach for dealing with less cooperative individuals. In this framework you do have an agenda but even then, the fundamental principle remains as understanding the dynamics of conversation as key to achieving results.
Improving Conversations - A Learnable Skill
Behavioral scientist Alison Wood Brooks, in her book Talk, The Science of Conversation, and The Art of Being Ourselves highlights that many aspects of effective communication can be learned. One of the simplest yet most impactful techniques is topic preparation - thinking in advance about potential areas of discussion.
She also recognized the power of Open-Ended Questions. Her research revealed that open-ended questions, those driven by genuine curiosity are the most effective in gathering detailed and accurate information. The Studies showed that open-ended questions resulted in responses that are twice as detailed compared to closed-ended ones.
This aligns closely with the PEACE framework for investigative interviewing, developed in the UK in the 1990s. It emphasizes structured, topic-based questioning using the PLAT approach: People, Locations, Actions, and Times. These elements, combined with open-ended prompts like Tell me, Explain to me, Describe to me, or Show me (TEDS), support free recall the gold standard in memory retrieval.
Conversations with a purpose require skill, structure, and intention. They are not just exchanges of words they are opportunities to listen, learn, and uncover the truth. By refining our questioning techniques, practicing active listening, and embracing curiosity, we can transform every conversation into a meaningful and effective exchange.
