PhD title: Sensemaking and cooperation in interrogations: The role of matching

我的论文的主要主题涉及人际意义建构（人们如何理解他人的动机和愿望）以及在审讯和情报环境中动机对齐/协调的潜在积极影响。具体来说，博士的主要研究问题是是否有可能通过动机框架的对齐和协调来增加审讯中的信任和合作。该研究基于Taylor（2002）开发的沟通行为圆柱模型。该模型假设，在沟通时，人们倾向于关注工具，关系或身份问题。先前的研究表明，这些动机框架的匹配与积极的互动结果有关。然而，大部分研究本质上是相关的，这意味着不可能梳理出匹配和合作之间的因果关系。通过采用精心设计的实验，该项目的目的是提供这一证据。第一项研究（在2020年4月至2020年8月之间进行）是实验性的，旨在证明是否有可能操纵动机框架匹配，以增加在线审讯情况下的信任和合作。结果是混合的，但表明，匹配导致更多的参与者匹配，但仅在开始的采访。第二项研究（在2020年9月之间进行-正在进行中）基于美国空军的审讯记录。目的是验证和扩展泰勒（2002）为危机谈判开发的先前模型（圆柱模型），以帮助解释审讯情况下的人际互动。最初，根据预先开发的编码方案，在思维单元水平的分析上对成绩单进行编码。这通过第二次编码约51%的转录本来验证。编码员之间的一致性令人满意（Cohen kappa = .73）。与Taylor（2002）类似，该分析将采用最小空间分析，以了解圆柱形通信模型是否也存在于这些军事审讯中。第三项研究（于2021年4月至2021年6月期间进行）与第二项研究相似。然而，他们现在想象自己是嫌疑犯，而不是让参与者扮演嫌疑犯的角色。这意味着可以构建完全匹配和完全不匹配的相互作用。此外，我们还操纵了相互作用的方向（合作与竞争）。结果发现，动机框架匹配导致显着更高的水平的感觉理解和认同与面试官，但只有一个互动，是合作的。对于竞争性互动，动机框架匹配实际上导致了更不愿意提供信息，身份和信任面试官。第四项研究（目前正在计划中）可能会试图探索在匹配的互动中会发生什么，但嫌疑人和面试官的取向不同。例如，嫌疑人采取竞争取向，而面试官采取合作取向。理解匹配在这些情况下的作用应该是重要的，以便找到处理竞争或不合作嫌疑人的方法。虽然可以假设动机框架匹配可以有效地将竞争性嫌疑人转变为更具合作性的取向，但这在之前还没有实验证明。最后，计划进行第五项研究，调查是否有可能操纵/激发参与者的动机，然后看看匹配与不匹配的效果。总之，博士将围绕圆柱体模型（泰勒，2002年）以及如何通过人际意义建构来鼓励合作。

The main topic of my thesis relates to interpersonal sensemaking (how people make sense of others' motivations and desires) and the potential positive effects of motivational alignment/coordination in interrogation and intelligence settings. Specifically, the main research question of the PhD is whether it is possible to increase trust and cooperation in interrogations through the alignment and coordination of motivational frames. The research is based on the cylindrical model of communication behaviours, developed by Taylor (2002). The model hypothesises that when communicating, people tend to focus on either instrumental, relational, or identity concerns. Previous research has shown matching of these motivational frames to be associated with positive interaction outcomes. However, much of this research was correlational in nature, meaning it was impossible to tease out the causal link between matching and cooperation. By employing carefully designed experiments, the aim of this project is to deliver this evidence. The first study (conducted between Apr 2020-Aug 2020) was experimental and sought to demonstrate whether it was possible to manipulate motivational frame matching in order to increase trust and cooperation in an online interrogation situation. The results were mixed but indicated that interrogator matching led to more participant matching, but only in the beginning of the interview. The second study (conducted between Sep 2020-in progress) was based on interrogation transcripts from the US Air Force. The aim was to validate and extend a previous model (the cylinder model) developed by Taylor (2002) for crisis negotiations, to help explain interpersonal interactions in interrogation situations. Initially, the transcripts were coded on a thought unit level of analysis according to a pre-developed coding scheme. This was validated by second coding approximately 51% of the transcripts. The agreement between coders were satisfactory (Cohen's kappa = .73). Similar to Taylor (2002), the analysis will employ smallest space analysis to see whether the cylindrical model of communication also is present in these military interrogations. The third study (conducted between Apr 2021-Jun 2021) was similar to study two. However, instead of having participants take the role of the suspect, they now imagined being the suspect. This meant that it was possible to construct completely matched and completely non-matched interactions. In addition, we also manipulated the orientation taken towards the interaction (cooperative vs. competitive). It was found that motivational frame matching led to significantly higher levels of feeling understood and identify with the interviewer, but only for an interaction that was cooperative. For a competitive interaction, motivational frame matching actually led to less willingness to provide information, identity, and trust the interviewer. The fourth study (currently being planned) will likely seek to explore what happens in interactions that are matched but where the adopted orientation of the suspect and interviewer is different. For example, the suspect adopting a competitive orientation while the interviewer adopts a cooperative orientation. Understanding the role of matching in these situations ought to be important in order to find ways to handle competitive or uncooperative suspects. While it could be hypothesised that motivational frame matching would be effective at turning a competitive suspect around into a more cooperative orientation, this has not been experimentally demonstrated before. Finally, there are plans for a fifth study to investigate whether it is possible to manipulate/prime participants' motivations and then look at the effect of matching vs. nonmatching. In sum, the PhD will revolve around the cylinder model (Taylor, 2002) and how cooperation can be encouraged through interpersonal sensemaking.