The impact of forensic delay: facilitating facial composite construction using an early-recall retrieval technique
Authors: Portch, E., Brown, C., Fodarella, C., Jackson, E., Hancock, P.J.B., Tredoux, C.G., Lewis, M.B., Liu, C.H., Marsh, J.E., Erickson, W.B., Mitchell, N.P., Fasching, C., Tran, L., Wood, E., Damin, E.A., Robertshaw, L., Lampinen, J.M., Date, L., Joyce, S., Brooks, L., Farrow, A., Barnes, T., Frowd, C.D.
Journal: Ergonomics
Publication Date: 01/01/2025
eISSN: 1366-5847
ISSN: 0014-0139
DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2025.2519876
Abstract:Memory for facial features deteriorates over time, diminishing one’s ability to construct an accurate visual likeness of a face (i.e. a facial composite). In Experiment 1, we investigated how retention interval impacts composite construction. Participants recalled an unfamiliar face during a Cognitive Interview (CI) and constructed a feature composite across four post-encoding retention intervals. Correct composite naming declined sharply after a 3-4 hour retention interval, remained stable at two days, and dropped to floor-level after one week. Experiments 2–4 examined how composite effectiveness was influenced by the incorporation of two factors: (a) a novel, self-administered written face-recall attempt, conducted 3-4 hours after encoding, and (b) a standard or modified holistic recall elicited immediately before construction. Participant-witnesses created more identifiable likenesses when early recall was invited, suggesting that this intervention consolidated and enhanced access to facial-feature information. The addition of a character-based interview further improved both feature and holistic composites.
https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/41173/
Source: Scopus
The impact of forensic delay: facilitating facial composite construction using an early-recall retrieval technique.
Authors: Portch, E., Brown, C., Fodarella, C., Jackson, E., Hancock, P.J.B., Tredoux, C.G., Lewis, M.B., Liu, C.H., Marsh, J.E., Erickson, W.B., Mitchell, N.P., Fasching, C., Tran, L., Wood, E., Damin, E.A., Robertshaw, L., Lampinen, J.M., Date, L., Joyce, S., Brooks, L., Farrow, A., Barnes, T., Frowd, C.D.
Journal: Ergonomics
Publication Date: 08/07/2025
Pages: 1-24
eISSN: 1366-5847
DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2025.2519876
Abstract:Memory for facial features deteriorates over time, diminishing one's ability to construct an accurate visual likeness of a face (i.e. a facial composite). In Experiment 1, we investigated how retention interval impacts composite construction. Participants recalled an unfamiliar face during a Cognitive Interview (CI) and constructed a feature composite across four post-encoding retention intervals. Correct composite naming declined sharply after a 3-4 hour retention interval, remained stable at two days, and dropped to floor-level after one week. Experiments 2-4 examined how composite effectiveness was influenced by the incorporation of two factors: (a) a novel, self-administered written face-recall attempt, conducted 3-4 hours after encoding, and (b) a standard or modified holistic recall elicited immediately before construction. Participant-witnesses created more identifiable likenesses when early recall was invited, suggesting that this intervention consolidated and enhanced access to facial-feature information. The addition of a character-based interview further improved both feature and holistic composites.
https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/41173/
Source: PubMed
The impact of forensic delay: facilitating facial composite construction using an early-recall retrieval technique
Authors: Portch, E., Brown, C., Fodarella, C., Jackson, E., Hancock, P.J.B., Tredoux, C.G., Lewis, M.B., Liu, C.H., Marsh, J.E., Erickson, W.B., Mitchell, N.P., Fasching, C., Tran, L., Wood, E., Damin, E.A., Robertshaw, L., Lampinen, J.M., Date, L., Joyce, S., Brooks, L., Farrow, A., Barnes, T., Frowd, C.D.
Journal: ERGONOMICS
Publication Date: 05/07/2025
eISSN: 1366-5847
ISSN: 0014-0139
DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2025.2519876
https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/41173/
Source: Web of Science
The impact of forensic delay: facilitating facial composite construction using an early-recall retrieval technique
Authors: Portch, E., Brown, C., Fodarella, C., Jackson, E., Hancock, P.J.B., Tredoux, C.G., Lewis, M.B., Liu, C., Marsh, J.E., Erickson, W.B., Mitchell, N.P., Fasching, C., Tran, L., Wood, E., Damin, E.A., Robertshaw, L., Lampinen, J.M., Date, L., Joyce, S., Brooks, L., Farrow, A., Barnes, T., Frowd, C.D.
Journal: Ergonomics
Publication Date: 08/07/2025
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
eISSN: 1366-5847
ISSN: 0014-0139
DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2025.2519876
Abstract:Memory for facial features deteriorates over time, diminishing one’s ability to construct an accurate visual likeness of a face (i.e. a facial composite). In Experiment 1, we investigated how retention interval impacts composite construction. Participants recalled an unfamiliar face during a Cognitive Interview (CI) and constructed a feature composite across four post-encoding retention intervals. Correct composite naming declined sharply after a 3-4 hour retention interval, remained stable at two days, and dropped to floor-level after one week. Experiments 2–4 examined how composite effectiveness was influenced by the incorporation of two factors: (a) a novel, self-administered written face-recall attempt, conducted 3-4 hours after encoding, and (b) a standard or modified holistic recall elicited immediately before construction. Participant-witnesses created more identifiable likenesses when early recall was invited, suggesting that this intervention consolidated and enhanced access to facial-feature information. The addition of a character-based interview further improved both feature and holistic composites.
https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/41173/
Source: Manual
The impact of forensic delay: facilitating facial composite construction using an early-recall retrieval technique.
Authors: Portch, E., Brown, C., Fodarella, C., Jackson, E., Hancock, P.J.B., Tredoux, C.G., Lewis, M.B., Liu, C.H., Marsh, J.E., Erickson, W.B., Mitchell, N.P., Fasching, C., Tran, L., Wood, E., Damin, E.A., Robertshaw, L., Lampinen, J.M., Date, L., Joyce, S., Brooks, L., Farrow, A., Barnes, T., Frowd, C.D.
Journal: Ergonomics
Publication Date: 07/2025
Pages: 1-24
eISSN: 1366-5847
ISSN: 0014-0139
DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2025.2519876
Abstract:Memory for facial features deteriorates over time, diminishing one's ability to construct an accurate visual likeness of a face (i.e. a facial composite). In Experiment 1, we investigated how retention interval impacts composite construction. Participants recalled an unfamiliar face during a Cognitive Interview (CI) and constructed a feature composite across four post-encoding retention intervals. Correct composite naming declined sharply after a 3-4 hour retention interval, remained stable at two days, and dropped to floor-level after one week. Experiments 2-4 examined how composite effectiveness was influenced by the incorporation of two factors: (a) a novel, self-administered written face-recall attempt, conducted 3-4 hours after encoding, and (b) a standard or modified holistic recall elicited immediately before construction. Participant-witnesses created more identifiable likenesses when early recall was invited, suggesting that this intervention consolidated and enhanced access to facial-feature information. The addition of a character-based interview further improved both feature and holistic composites.
https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/41173/
Source: Europe PubMed Central