The efficacy of the Delphi method for adapting cognitive interviewing instructions into culturally and linguistically diverse international policing contexts.

This article examines the adaptation of the Cognitive Interviewing (CI) technique—an internationally recognized, memory-enhancing method for ethical police witness interviews—into culturally and linguistically diverse contexts, focusing on Indonesia as a case study. It highlights that effective implementation of CI requires more than direct translation of training materials; it demands careful consideration of linguistic, cultural, and legal differences, particularly the complex multidimensional nature of formality in Indonesian language and police discourse. The authors propose and demonstrate the use of the Delphi method, an iterative expert consensus approach involving linguists, translators, and police investigators, to identify optimal Indonesian translations of CI instructions that align with local norms and support the 2021 United Nations Mendez Principles on effective interviewing. Findings reveal a preference for formal language styles combined with appropriate discourse particles to balance professionalism and rapport-building, underscoring the necessity of nuanced, evidence-based translation processes for global implementation of investigative interviewing standards.