Feni Kontogianni
CREST Outputs
Projects
Articles
Academic Publications
Facilitating recall and particularisation of repeated events in adults using a multi-method interviewing format
Reports about repeated experiences tend to include more schematic information than information about specific instances. However, investigators in both forensic and intelligence settings typically seek specific over general information. We tested a multi-method interviewing format (MMIF) to facilitate recall and particularisation of repeated events through the use of the self-generated cues mnemonic, the timeline technique, and follow-up questions. Over separate sessions, 150 adult participants watched four scripted films depicting a series of meetings in which a terrorist group planned attacks and planted explosive devices. For half of our sample, the third witnessed event included two deviations (one new detail and one changed detail). A week later, participants provided their account using the MMIF, the timeline technique with self-generated cues, or a free recall format followed by open-ended questions. As expected, more information was reported overall in the MMIF condition compared to the other format conditions, for two types of details, correct details, and correct gist details. The reporting of internal intrusions was comparable across format conditions. Contrary to hypotheses, the presence of deviations did not benefit recall or source monitoring. Our findings have implications for information elicitation in applied settings and for future research on adults’ retrieval of repeated events.
(From the journal abstract)
Kontogianni, F., Rubinova, E., Hope, L., Taylor, P. J., Vrij, A., & Gabbert, F. (2021). Facilitating recall and particularisation of repeated events in adults using a multi-method interviewing format. Memory, 29(4), 471–485.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2021.1903508Exploring cultural differences in eyewitness accounts using a self-administered reporting technique
In a globalised world, investigators often interact with witnesses from diverse cultural backgrounds. To date, there is a wealth of research on the use of evidence-based practices to facilitate recall and reporting in information elicitation contexts. However, research has been primarily conducted with participants from western (and typically individualistic) cultural contexts, ignoring the potential effects of cultural communication norms on memory reporting among other factors. We compared reports provided by two samples that contrast on the individualist-collectivist dimension (UK vs Lebanon). Participants (N = 118) witnessed a staged crime event and provided an account (in their native language) using a self-administered Timeline Technique or a Free Recall format, before responding to cued recall questions. As in previous research, UK participants reported more correct information when using the Timeline Technique compared to free recall. Contrary to hypotheses, participants in Lebanon provided a similar amount of information across reporting format conditions. Overall, Lebanese participants provided fewer correct details both in spontaneous self-administered reporting formats and in cued recall, compared to their UK counterparts. These findings have implications for information-gathering practices in cross-cultural interactions and highlight the (potential) need to modify existing techniques for different cultural contexts.
(From the journal abstract)
Hope, L., Kontogianni, F., et al. (2023) Exploring cultural differences in eyewitness accounts using a self-administered reporting technique, Psychology, Crime & Law, https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2023.2279330
https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2023.2279330Sources and Destinations of Misattributions in Recall of Instances of Repeated Events
Multiteam systems (MTSs) are comprised of two or more interconnected teams working toward shared superordinate goals but with unique sub-goals. To date, research has predominantly focused on how decisions are made and has viewed these cognitive processes as occurring within individuals. However, for MTSs operating in extreme environments such as disasters, it is often not a question of how decisions are made, but what is causing delays and failures to make decisions. To understand the causes of decision delay within these complex networks, it is important to focus on decision processes at the multiteam level. Using naturalistic observational and interview data collected during a multi-site, multiteam emergency response to a large-scale disaster exercise, this study examines both information sharing (what was shared, with whom, how long this took), and decision processes across teams (situational awareness—SA, plan formulation, and plan execution). Findings demonstrate that interdependencies in cognitive processes exist across individuals where goals overlap. Decision delay is not only caused by failure to develop SA within a team preventing their ability to formulate and execute plans but also by the inability of other teams to execute their plans. The implications of these findings for developing targeted interventions are discussed.
(From the journal abstract)
Rubínová, E., Kontogianni, F. Sources and destinations of misattributions in recall of instances of repeated events. Mem Cogn 51, 188–202 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3758/s13421-022-01300-7
https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13421-022-01300-7A Click of Faith: How Perceived Trustworthiness Affects Online Risk-Taking in Unfamiliar Dyads
(From the Journal article abstract)
Perceptions of trustworthiness foster feelings of swift trust and, in turn, yield positive outcomes in virtual teams. However, limited research has investigated the effects of trustworthiness on trust formation and online risk-taking in unfamiliar dyads. We manipulated the trustworthiness of a pseudo-player (untrustworthy vs trustworthy) in the first of two interactive online games and recorded the participant’s risk-taking behaviour (number of high-risk decisions and investment size) in the second game. We expected a direct and a trust-mediated effect of untrustworthiness on risk-taking. Although our preregistered hypotheses were not supported, exploratory analyses revealed that participants playing with the untrustworthy player were less willing to trust them and, in turn, took significantly fewer high-risk decisions during the first phase of the second game than participants playing with the trustworthy player. No effect was found for investment size. Our results suggest that perceptions of trustworthiness indirectly influence online risk-taking behaviour by informing trust.
Hillner, L., Hope, L., Kontogianni, F., & Conchie, S. (2025). A Click of Faith: How Perceived Trustworthiness Affects Online Risk-Taking in Unfamiliar Dyads. The Journal of Social Psychology, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2025.2464736
https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2025.2464736
Projects
Articles
Academic Publications
Facilitating recall and particularisation of repeated events in adults using a multi-method interviewing format
Reports about repeated experiences tend to include more schematic information than information about specific instances. However, investigators in both forensic and intelligence settings typically seek specific over general information. We tested a multi-method interviewing format (MMIF) to facilitate recall and particularisation of repeated events through the use of the self-generated cues mnemonic, the timeline technique, and follow-up questions. Over separate sessions, 150 adult participants watched four scripted films depicting a series of meetings in which a terrorist group planned attacks and planted explosive devices. For half of our sample, the third witnessed event included two deviations (one new detail and one changed detail). A week later, participants provided their account using the MMIF, the timeline technique with self-generated cues, or a free recall format followed by open-ended questions. As expected, more information was reported overall in the MMIF condition compared to the other format conditions, for two types of details, correct details, and correct gist details. The reporting of internal intrusions was comparable across format conditions. Contrary to hypotheses, the presence of deviations did not benefit recall or source monitoring. Our findings have implications for information elicitation in applied settings and for future research on adults’ retrieval of repeated events.
(From the journal abstract)
Kontogianni, F., Rubinova, E., Hope, L., Taylor, P. J., Vrij, A., & Gabbert, F. (2021). Facilitating recall and particularisation of repeated events in adults using a multi-method interviewing format. Memory, 29(4), 471–485.
Exploring cultural differences in eyewitness accounts using a self-administered reporting technique
In a globalised world, investigators often interact with witnesses from diverse cultural backgrounds. To date, there is a wealth of research on the use of evidence-based practices to facilitate recall and reporting in information elicitation contexts. However, research has been primarily conducted with participants from western (and typically individualistic) cultural contexts, ignoring the potential effects of cultural communication norms on memory reporting among other factors. We compared reports provided by two samples that contrast on the individualist-collectivist dimension (UK vs Lebanon). Participants (N = 118) witnessed a staged crime event and provided an account (in their native language) using a self-administered Timeline Technique or a Free Recall format, before responding to cued recall questions. As in previous research, UK participants reported more correct information when using the Timeline Technique compared to free recall. Contrary to hypotheses, participants in Lebanon provided a similar amount of information across reporting format conditions. Overall, Lebanese participants provided fewer correct details both in spontaneous self-administered reporting formats and in cued recall, compared to their UK counterparts. These findings have implications for information-gathering practices in cross-cultural interactions and highlight the (potential) need to modify existing techniques for different cultural contexts.
(From the journal abstract)
Hope, L., Kontogianni, F., et al. (2023) Exploring cultural differences in eyewitness accounts using a self-administered reporting technique, Psychology, Crime & Law, https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2023.2279330
Sources and Destinations of Misattributions in Recall of Instances of Repeated Events
Multiteam systems (MTSs) are comprised of two or more interconnected teams working toward shared superordinate goals but with unique sub-goals. To date, research has predominantly focused on how decisions are made and has viewed these cognitive processes as occurring within individuals. However, for MTSs operating in extreme environments such as disasters, it is often not a question of how decisions are made, but what is causing delays and failures to make decisions. To understand the causes of decision delay within these complex networks, it is important to focus on decision processes at the multiteam level. Using naturalistic observational and interview data collected during a multi-site, multiteam emergency response to a large-scale disaster exercise, this study examines both information sharing (what was shared, with whom, how long this took), and decision processes across teams (situational awareness—SA, plan formulation, and plan execution). Findings demonstrate that interdependencies in cognitive processes exist across individuals where goals overlap. Decision delay is not only caused by failure to develop SA within a team preventing their ability to formulate and execute plans but also by the inability of other teams to execute their plans. The implications of these findings for developing targeted interventions are discussed.
(From the journal abstract)
Rubínová, E., Kontogianni, F. Sources and destinations of misattributions in recall of instances of repeated events. Mem Cogn 51, 188–202 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3758/s13421-022-01300-7
A Click of Faith: How Perceived Trustworthiness Affects Online Risk-Taking in Unfamiliar Dyads
(From the Journal article abstract)
Perceptions of trustworthiness foster feelings of swift trust and, in turn, yield positive outcomes in virtual teams. However, limited research has investigated the effects of trustworthiness on trust formation and online risk-taking in unfamiliar dyads. We manipulated the trustworthiness of a pseudo-player (untrustworthy vs trustworthy) in the first of two interactive online games and recorded the participant’s risk-taking behaviour (number of high-risk decisions and investment size) in the second game. We expected a direct and a trust-mediated effect of untrustworthiness on risk-taking. Although our preregistered hypotheses were not supported, exploratory analyses revealed that participants playing with the untrustworthy player were less willing to trust them and, in turn, took significantly fewer high-risk decisions during the first phase of the second game than participants playing with the trustworthy player. No effect was found for investment size. Our results suggest that perceptions of trustworthiness indirectly influence online risk-taking behaviour by informing trust.
Hillner, L., Hope, L., Kontogianni, F., & Conchie, S. (2025). A Click of Faith: How Perceived Trustworthiness Affects Online Risk-Taking in Unfamiliar Dyads. The Journal of Social Psychology, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2025.2464736