Interview Techniques & Communication Flashcards
7 cards from real CFE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Interview Techniques & Communication flashcards as text
A CFE must interview a subject who only speaks Mandarin. What is the MOST appropriate action?
Answer: Hire a certified professional interpreter and brief them beforehand
A certified professional interpreter ensures accuracy, confidentiality, and impartiality; briefing them on scope and sensitive terminology improves effectiveness.
When interviewing a potential victim of fraud who is emotionally distressed, which communication approach is MOST appropriate?
Answer: Use active listening and empathetic responses before moving to detailed questioning
Active listening and empathy help stabilize a distressed victim, build trust, and ultimately produce more accurate and complete testimony.
Which non-verbal behavior is LEAST reliable as a standalone indicator of deception during a forensic interview?
Answer: Gaze aversion
Gaze aversion alone is a poor deception indicator because cultural norms, anxiety, and cognitive effort all produce it in truthful subjects.
What is the 'funnel approach' in forensic interviewing?
Answer: Beginning with broad open-ended questions and progressively narrowing to specific closed questions
The funnel approach maximizes the quality and quantity of information by allowing free narrative first before narrowing with specific probes.
During a recorded interview, the subject asks whether the conversation is being recorded. What should the CFE do?
Answer: Confirm the recording and explain its purpose as required
CFEs must be truthful; concealing recording when directly asked is deceptive, potentially illegal, and may render the interview inadmissible.
A subject's written statement differs significantly from their oral account. Which step should the CFE take FIRST?
Answer: Re-interview the subject using open questions about each version
Re-interviewing with open questions gives the subject an opportunity to explain discrepancies and allows the CFE to assess credibility before drawing conclusions.
What does 'mirroring' accomplish in a forensic interview context?
Answer: Repeating the subject's last few words to encourage elaboration
Mirroring — softly repeating the subject's last words — signals attentiveness and naturally encourages the subject to continue speaking and provide more detail.