When interviewing, is it acceptable to start by building rapport?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not necessary
• D. Only with witnesses

Answer: (A)

Starting an interview by building rapport improves information gathering. When you greet the person warmly, introduce yourself, explain who you are and why you’re there, and outline what will happen next, you reduce anxiety and defensiveness. That creates a safer, more trusting environment where the interviewee feels respected and more willing to share details accurately and completely. This is especially helpful with witnesses and victims who may be stressed or fearful, as it encourages cooperative, cooperative recall and reduces guarded responses. Building rapport also signals professionalism and fairness, which supports voluntary cooperation and a smoother interview flow.

The idea isn’t to skip rapport or pretend it’s only useful in one situation; it’s a foundational technique that benefits most interviews. Choosing to skip it or restricting it to a subset of interviewees misses an opportunity to improve reliability and rapport fosters ethical, effective questioning.