SIGNIFICANT ASPECTS OF AN INVESTIGATION, IN THE BROAD SENSE, ARE TALKING WITH PEOPLE, ELICITING INFORMATION, AND EVALUATING INFORMATION. THE PURPOSE OF SUCH AN INTERVIEW IS TO OBTAIN INFORMATION FROM A PERSON WHO MAY BE RELUCTANT TO FURNISH IT. THE PROCESS OF ELICITING INFORMATION BEGINS WITH PLANNING AND BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH FACTS ABOUT THE CASE IN QUESTION. PRINCIPLES IN INFORMATION GATHERING ARE: CONSIDER PRIVACY, BE OBJECTIVE AND EMPHATHETIC, ESTABLISH RAPPORT, BE POSITIVE AND LISTEN, WEIGH THE WORDS OF THE INTERVIEWEE, BE PATIENT, DO NOT GIVE FALSE INFORMATION, AND DO NOT BLUFF. COURTESY WITHOUT EXCESS FLATTERY IS IMPORTANT IN ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING RAPPORT, ALONG WITH ACCURATE OBSERVATION. OBSTACLES TO ACCURATE OBSERVATION INCLUDE PREJUDICE, PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS, INADEQUATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SUBJECT, INABILITY TO DISCRIMINATE, CONFUSING OBSERVED FACTS AND INFERENCES, LACK OF MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL POISE, DISTRACTING INFLUENCES, AND INATTENTION. IN ADDITION TO FACTORS AFFECTING THE WAY THE EVENT IS OBSERVED, THERE ARE DIFFICULTIES IN OBSERVATION REPORTING. A PROPER CONCEPTION OF THE MEANING OF WORDS IS NECESSARY IN COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE INTERVIEWER AND THE INTERVIEWEE. EVALUATION IS A CONTINUING PROCESS; INTERVIEW INFORMATION MUST BE EVALUATED TO DETERMINE HOW IT FITS IN WITH OTHER INTERVIEWS OR EVIDENCE. (DEP)