What works in behavioural recognition? A systematic review

Abstract

Over the last few decades, a growing evidence base for investigative interviewing techniques has informed practitioners and policy-makers worldwide and promoted ethical information elicitation. Many of these techniques rely on elements of behavioural recognition (i.e., our ability to accurately interpret a behavioural or emotional response) to improve communication and cooperation. The current systematic review examined existing literature on ‘what works’ in behavioural recognition across multiple disciplines to address the following question: can we accurately interpret the dynamic behaviour of others? A total of 55 research articles were evaluated, discovering mixed findings across multiple areas. Demographics, individual differences (e.g., emotional intelligence), interview parameters (e.g., contextual knowledge and motivation), interview strategies (e.g., cue detection and thought strategies), and interviewee presentation were all important areas of consideration. However, most importantly, the findings suggests that behavioural recognition is a trainable skill, highlighting the need for further empirical research to be conducted in this area