Statement analysis is the word-by-word examination of a statement independent of case facts to determine deception. It has evolved into a valuable investigative tool when schooled in the art but should only be used in conjunction with other investigative techniques.
Statement analysis provides insight to a statement that identifies areas for further investigation, thereby lending itself to helping skilled investigators plan future subject interviews and ongoing investigations. It is similar to Incident Scene Reconstruction in that it represents a careful, systematic collection and review of each word written, recorded or uttered by a person.
Spectrum Advantage Group has adopted traditional statement analysis methods to focus on whether statements are accurate and complete. This provides us an opportunity to quickly analyze a statement to determine its accuracy and completeness, using three elements of statement analysis--lack of personal conviction, extraneous information and balance. We chose these elements because they often appear as strong indicators of the accuracy and completeness of a statement and are relatively easy to identify in a written statement (or transcribed verbal statement).
Lack of Conviction
Lack of personal conviction is a modifying or equivocating term. Such terms allow the speaker to evade the risk of commitment. The speaker is undermining his/her own assertion, which may indicate some difficulty with committing to what is being said. This is evident when any word or phrase indicates an attempt by the speaker to avoid personal accountability, especially when it qualifies or limits the central issue of the statement, represents an example of lack of conviction.
Extraneous Information
Extraneous information in a statement also can provide clues to deception. A truthful person, with nothing to hide, when asked "what happened?" will recount the events chronologically and concisely. Any information that does not answer this question is extraneous. This explains why the statement examiner must know the question used by the investigator to initiate the statement. Based upon the fight-or-flight physiological response, "It is much less emotionally demanding and anxiety provoking to take the course of least resistance: evasion and indirect deception, rather than direct denial, lies, and direct deceptions."
Balance
Typically, a person’s account of an incident is balanced in three aspects; Pre-incident, the incident and Post-incident. 10% or more in deviation by any calculation may be an indicator of deception.
When individuals answer investigators' questions accurately and completely, their statements are clear and straightforward, with little or no qualifying words, and the content of the statements relates directly to the questions asked by the investigator. However, when claimants cannot or will not explain what happened, their statements become riddled with lack of conviction, extraneous or out-of-balance information. They supply information that is "safe" and will not implicate or cause them to share the burden of the activity involved with an alleged compensable claim.
The manner statements are obtained is critical to statement analysis. Spectrum Advantage Group has the experience and skill in developing questionnaires and interview environments that provide the best possibility for statement analysis.
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