A meta‐analytic review of experimental tests of the interrogation technique of Hanns Joachim Scharff

A meta-analytic review of experimental tests of the interrogation technique of Hanns Joachim Scharff

10.31234/osf.io/yxpja ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Timothy John Luke

Keyword(s):

Experimental Studies ◽

Field Research ◽

Experimental Tests ◽

Second World War ◽

Prisoners Of War ◽

Future Research ◽

New Information ◽

Analytic Review ◽

Interrogation Technique ◽

Second World

Hanns Scharff, an interrogator during the Second World War, was known for his remarkable effectiveness at collecting intelligence from prisoners of war using a friendly, conversational approach in which he led the prisoners to unknowingly reveal the information he wanted. In the last decade, psychologists have produced a body of experimental studies testing the effectiveness of Scharff’s interrogation technique. Here, I provide a meta-analytic review of that experimental research. The existing data supports the conclusions that the present conceptualization of Scharff’s technique is effective at eliciting more new information, leading people to perceive the interviewer as more knowledgeable, and inducing people to underestimate how much information they have revealed. However, numerous unanswered questions and challenges for this program of research remain. For example, future research may benefit from examining unaddressed elements of the methods Scharff used in the field. Research would also benefit from the development of measures that more clearly correspond to practical outcomes.

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Selective Exposure and Dissonance after Decisions

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.2002.91.2.527 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 91 (2) ◽

pp. 527-532 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Dave D'Alessio ◽

Mike Allen

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Dissonance ◽

Statistical Power ◽

Experimental Tests ◽

Selective Exposure ◽

Statistical Methodology ◽

Analytic Review ◽

Literature Reviews ◽

The 1960S ◽

Dissonance Theory

Well-known literature reviews from the 1960s question whether cognitive dissonance underlies experimental participants' selective exposure of themselves to consonant messages and avoidance of dissonant ones. A meta-analytic review of 16 studies published from 1956 to 1996 and involving 1,922 total participants shows that experimental tests consistently support the supposition that dissonance is associated with selective exposure ( r = .22, p < .001). Statistical power exceeded .99. Advances in statistical methodology and increased attention to selecting appropriate tests of dissonance theory were essential to finally resolving this question.

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