The practical relevance of investigative interviewing research: applying the EMMIE framework to bridge the research-practice gap

2026/06/16 by Nicola Palena, Stijn Ruiter, Aldert Vrij +2 · 1 voice
Social Sciences · Neuroscience · #Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics #Qualitative Research Methods and Applications #Memory Processes and Influences

paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/15614263.2026.2687432

openalex publication_date 2026/06/16 · openalex created_date 2026/06/17 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/19

Abstract

Investigative interviewing research has produced valuable insights into effective techniques for gathering information. However, this research often fails to fully bridge the gap between academia and practice. We argue that adopting the EMMIE framework – examining Effects, Mechanisms, Moderators, Implementation, and Economic costs – could enhance the practical relevance of investigative interviewing research. We reviewed recent meta-analyses showing studies address effects and moderators of interviewing techniques, while often neglecting mechanisms, implementation, and economic dimensions. This limits practitioners’ ability to make informed decisions about new methods. Future research should consider all five EMMIE dimensions to provide comprehensive understanding, facilitating standardized guidelines, revealing new research directions, and supporting an evidence repository for policymakers. We emphasize the importance of early researcher-practitioner collaboration to ensure findings apply in real-world settings. By embracing EMMIE and fostering partnerships, investigative interviewing research can better inform policy and practice, improving information gathering effectiveness.

Citations

• A meta‐analytic review of experimental tests of the interrogation technique of Hanns Joachim Scharff
• A meta‐analytic review of the timing for disclosing evidence when interviewing suspects
• PRISMA2020 : An R package and Shiny app for producing PRISMA 2020‐compliant flow diagrams, with interactivity for optimised digital transparency and Open Synthesis
• Exploring the use of rapport in professional information‐gathering contexts by systematically mapping the evidence base

Discussions

• We know a lot about whether investigative interviewing techniques work—but far less about how to implement them, for whom they work, and at what cost. Our new paper shows how the EMMIE framework can [bsky, 3 points, 0 comments]

Related

• Interview-based research
• Evaluating the benefits of a rapport-based approach to investigative interviews: A training study with law enforcement investigators.
• Preparing for Interview Research: The Interview Protocol Refinement Framework
• Making Interviews Meaningful
• Using Interviews to Understand Why: Challenges and Strategies in the Study of Motivated Action