What are the Differences between Investigative vs Ordinary Conversations?
The key to successful investigations is knowing the differences between ordinary and investigative conversations. Here are three:
1. Goal focused vs Drifter conversations
Investigative conversations don't drift, they are goal focused.
Ordinary conversations drift, touching on a mix of topics casually. This relaxed style is great for a general exchange of thoughts but doesn't work when you need to get specific facts.
Investigative conversations stay on point, focusing on gathering exact information. They're organised in a way that each question leads to a clear fact, avoiding the usual wanderings of a normal chat.
2. Answers to questions vs Responses to questions
Investigators notice when people merely respond to their questions without answering them.
When asked a question, giving an answer means people offer clear information that satisfies the requirements of the question.
But sometimes, people respond without actually answering.
When digging for facts, it's important to NOTICE when someone is giving you the real answer or just talking around it. If you notice your question has not been answered, ask it again!
3. Lying vs Evasion
There's a fine line between lying and evasion.
Lying is dishonestly making a statement that does not correspond to the facts.
Evasion is telling a distorted narrative: it has elements of truth but it leaves out certain facts or distorts the time-line.
Evasion is more common than lying.
Evading the truth is when they're not direct, but they don't lie outright.
Both can be tricky in investigative talks. If someone isn't telling the truth, you can show them evidence that says otherwise.
But if they evade the truth, you might need to ask more pointed questions.
Summary
Recognising these distinctions is important for effective investigations.
- We must talk with a clear purpose.
- We must discover answers.
- We must stop evasions.
investigative conversation
An investigative conversation is a workplace investigation conversation style. It holds a clear goal, follows a planned line of fact finding questions, insists each reply gives a full answer, and keeps probing when it spots dodging or lies. If any part is missing, the talk slips into an ordinary chat.
CG4D Definition
Context: Workplace investigations
Genus: Conversation style
- Driven by a stated investigative goal
- Uses planned fact finding questions
- Demands complete answers to each question
- Challenges and follows up on dodging or lies
Article Summary
An investigative conversation stays on purpose, seeks clear answers and probes until facts surface; unlike an ordinary chat it refuses drift, flags dodging replies and presses past evasion to reveal truth.