A technique to encourage a cooperative witness is to treat them as a secondary source of information.

• A. False
• B. True
• C. Sometimes
• D. Not applicable

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is that fostering a cooperative witness mindset works when you frame their input as a secondary source of information rather than the centerpiece of the investigation. This approach invites them to share context and details without feeling they must carry the burden of establishing the truth on their own. When a witness sees their information as part of a larger picture that will be checked and corroborated, they tend to open up more, disclose observations, timings, and perceptions more freely, and worry less about making mistakes or saying something incriminating.

This framing also supports a collaborative interview dynamic: you’re not challenging or overloading them with questions as if they’re the sole source, but rather integrating their account into a broader evidentiary process. You can then verify and triangulate what they provide with other sources and evidence, which helps build a more accurate reconstruction of events. In short, treating cooperative witnesses as secondary sources reduces defensiveness, encourages fuller disclosure, and fits with a careful, corroborative interviewing approach.