Customer Reviews

Investigative Discourse Analysis

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What is "statement analysis"? An investigator primarily uses statement analysis to study a person's choice and organization of words to gain the most information from that person's statement. Statement analysis represents a powerful tool because it goes beyond assessing the statement's content and the interviewee's non-verbal behavior.

Don Rabon is a nationally recognized authority on statement analysis. This book provides some excellent information about statement analysis, as well as excerpts from statements that you can analyze to help understand and develop these skills. The appendix provides answers to the exercises that appear throughout the book.

I highly recommend that anyone interested in statement analysis, however, begin with the book "In Search of Truth," by Daniel T. Marsano. It has these advantages over Mr. Rabon's book: It

1. presents the concepts and tools in a way that you can understand and work with much more easily;
2. explains why people unconsciously change their language patterns in ways that provide you additional information;
3. teaches you how to use statement analysis in oral interviews, rather than just how to use written or transcribed statements; and
4. shows you how to structure an interview to gain the most information.

The only disadvantage to "In Search of Truth" is that you'll need to order it through your book store. If, after reading Mr. Marsano's book, you want to pursue statement analysis further, Mr. Rabon's is one you'll probably want to pick up.

Mr. Rabon's book provides an excellent overview of the basic premises and practices of statement analysis, leading the reader through information and examples, including practice statements where readers can apply the information they have learned. For anyone wanting to know more about this field, this book would be an excellent beginning. Clear, well-organized, and user-friendly throughout. Ted Kennedy's statement about the Chappaquiddick incident is included, as well as the statement of Dr. Jeffrey McDonald regarding the murder of his wife and two children. Fascinating and revealing analysis of both statements gives this book an added zing.

This is an excellent volume on analysis of a written statement and is a companion volume to Rabon's Interviewing and Interrogation text. If I were to use them in any particular order, I would use Investigative Discourse Analysis to gain an understanding of the importance of word choice and to build awareness of word choices prior to going on to developing interviewing skills.

I've had the pleasure of both reading these two texts and attending multi-day presentations by Rabon on statement analysis and interviewing & interrogation and can say that he does not waste time or space on fluff. His material is both substantive and carefully researched.

Rabon knows his stuff. In my mind, this material is primary and texts by other, well-known and recognized authorities in the field of interviewing and interrogation are secondary in my library on the subject.

So that you know the perspective from which I come, my work involves fraud - primarily in the areas of embezzlement and financial statement fraud.

If you have read Mark McClish's "I Know You Are Lying" and are excited about the next step, this volume is it.

Deeper, with more emphasis upon grammar, it is not for the superficial study, but for those who wish to truly understand Statement Analysis and grow in their understanding of how humans edit, deceive, withhold, and ultimately lie rather than disclose truth.

Who is best served by this book? All too much emphasis for Statement Analysis is placed upon law enforcement. Jr and Sr. High school principals, Human Resources who have the responsibility of hiring, social workers, therapists, Judges, individuals who are involved with politics (yes, truly!), anyone buying a used car (!), and so many other professions where truth is needed.

This is a book for those who have a good quality understanding of English grammar. Without it, the reader will be frustrated. The author "dumbs down" nothing for us, and seems to write in such a way as to expect excellence from the reader. Short quizzes are given and this book, unlike TV shows, reveals that there is no "magic bullet" or "instant face recognition of a liar", or other methods that are fun to watch, but terribly unrealistic. Although studying face microexpressions is of great value, it is another tool in an toolbox of valuable understandings that work together for the careful and diligent student of truth.

Perhaps the best "lie detector" comes from the individual who studies all avenues (vocal/written statements/face expressions/body language) and practices regularly.

Each time a press release from:
a. politician
b. sports figure
c. demagogue
d. celebrity
e. news figure

comes forth, it is time to practice. In today's society, there is no shortage of practice available to the diligent student who wishes to increase his skill, or for the seasoned vet who knows the value of maintaining his high level of detection.

You may thank our politicians and "reality" TV shows for that.

***** star book. A must for today's lie detectors.

As someone who has been in the business for 23 years, I was disappointed with this book. Perhaps the book works well in the confines of a classroom with the assistance of an instructor and some pratical exercises, but for someone looking to learn more about discourse analysis, it was shallow.