Confirmation Bias Doesn't Begin in the Interview Room

This article examines how confirmation bias often develops before an investigative interview begins, shaping how information is perceived, interpreted, and pursued. It explains how presumptive thinking, selective attention, and premature cognitive commitment can influence questioning, contaminate statements, and weaken reliability. The discussion emphasizes the importance of diagnostic discipline, uncontaminated information gathering, and evidence-based interviewing practices that withstand courtroom scrutiny. Reliable investigative interviews begin by recognizing and controlling bias before the first question is ever asked.