'Don't know' responding to interview questions: misinformation, motivation, and metacognition

人们已经了解了很多关于对最近目睹的事件的记忆准确性的因素。 到目前为止，这项研究主要集中在记忆的准确性上，很少有研究评估其他典型的反应方面，例如回答问题时说“我不知道”。最近的研究表明，“不知道”的反应在意义上是不同的，这种反应受到许多认知和元认知过程的影响。 因此，“不知道”的回答值得特别的研究关注。 本研究项目的目的是探索提问影响记忆的方式，以及更好地理解回答问题所涉及的决策过程。 为了实现这一目标，目前的研究将调查的影响，一些因素对利率和类型的“不知道”的回答采访问题。 这些因素包括不同类型的错误信息对“不知道”回答的影响;元认知意识在面试中对问题回答技能的作用，包括有效使用“不知道”回答;鼓励和劝阻“不知道”回答问题的影响;以及操纵动机以提供准确回答对“不知道”回答的影响。 最后，将评估培训答卷人有效回答问题对准确性和“不知道”答卷率的影响。 这些发现将有助于理解回答面试问题时所涉及的记忆和决策过程。 这项工作将大大提高对“不知道”的反应的理解，从而填补了关于回答问题的自然主义方面的知识空白。 这项工作的第二个好处是潜在的应用领域，通过采访获得准确的信息是必不可少的（如法医或医疗保健应用）。 研究结果将对记忆、认知和元认知领域的基础研究人员以及利用访谈收集信息的应用实践者感兴趣。

A great deal has been learned about factors involved in the accuracy of memory for recently witnessed events.  To date this research has focused upon the accuracy of memory, and little research has been conducted to evaluate other typically observed aspects of responding, such as saying "I don't know" in response to questions. Recent research has suggested that "don't know" responses differ in meaning, and that such responses are influenced by a numerous cognitive and metacognitive processes.  "Don't know" responses are therefore deserving of specific research attention.  The objectives of the present research program are to explore the ways that questioning can impact memory, as well as better understand the decision making processes involved in answering questions.  To accomplish this goal, the current research will investigate the impact of a number of factors upon rates and types of "don't know" responses made to interview questions.  These factors include the impact of different types of misinformation upon "don't know" responding; the role of metacognitive awareness for question answering skill during interviews, including the effective use of "don't know" responses; the impact of encouraging and discouraging "don't know" responses to questions; and the impact of manipulating motivation to provide accurate responses upon "don't know" responding.  Finally, the impact of training respondents in effective responding to questions upon accuracy and "don't know" response rates will be assessed.  The findings will be relevant to the understanding of memory and decision processes involved in answering interview questions.  This work will significantly enhance the understanding of "don't know" responses, thereby filling a gap in knowledge about a naturalistic aspect of responding to questioning.  A secondary benefit of this work is potential application to areas in which acquiring accurate information via interviewing is essential (such as forensic or health care applications).  The results will be of interest to basic researchers in the areas of memory, cognition, and metacognition, as well as applied practitioners who utilize interviews to gather information.