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Statement Analysis

In the mid-1950s, the German psychologist Udo Undeutsch developed what is now referred to as the Undeutsch Hypothesis: "Statements that are the product of experience will contain characteristics that are generally absent from statements that are the product of imagination."

From these early beginnings, statement analysis, the word-by-word examination of a statement, has evolved into a valuable investigative tool. When used in conjunction with other investigative techniques, it can assist greatly in the case-solving process.

Statement analysis provides insight into a statement that identifies areas for further investigation, thereby lending itself to helping law enforcement officers and investigators plan future subject interviews and ongoing investigations. It is similar to a crime scene search in that it represents a careful, systematic review of each word written or uttered by a person.

The major premise of statement analysis stems from empirical evidence that the recall of real events differ noticeably from fabricated accounts. Undeutsch pioneered the technique of credibility assessment to develop relatively precise, definable criteria that may help discern valid statements from artificial ones. The Undeutsch Hypothesis developed into Criteria Based Content Analysis, which is generally considered the most systematic aspect of the overall Statement Validity Analysis procedure.

Through Statement Analysis you can determine if a person is being truthful or deceptive. You can also obtain additional information from a person’s statement. This is because people’s words will betray them. Even though they may want to withhold information, people will give us more information than what they realize. Unfortunately, they sometimes give us more information than we realize. This is where a Linguistic Analyst Specialist can offer assistance that the common investigator can not.