Educing Information: Interrogation - National Intelligence University

What key factors affect the accuracy of educed information
The mind does not operate like a video camera. Perceiving, storing, and
retrieving information are active mental processes. A multitude of factors at any
of these three levels — including questioning strategies — can affect a person’s
ability (not just willingness) to acquire information and to retrieve and represent
it accurately.
What is known about the effect of “stress and duress” techniques for
educing accurate, useful information
Social science research describes the psychological and emotional effects of
strategies sometimes used to diminish resistance, specifically physical discomfort,
sleep deprivation, and sensory deprivation. Generally speaking, the stress and
fatigue produced under these conditions can impair the capacity to accurately
retrieve and perceive memories. None of the studies, however, addresses
definitively the issue of whether these tactics do indeed diminish resistance to
persuasion or influence, or promote compliance in relevant populations. Although
pain is commonly expected to facilitate compliance or diminish resistance, little
or no empirical research has addressed this topic.
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