Police Officer Selection Test (POST) Memory and Observation Syllabus

Memory and Observation syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Memory and Observation in Police Officer Selection Test (POST), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Visual Memory

   3 topics

   • Recalling Faces and Persons
     • Noting distinguishing features
     • Matching memorized faces to lineups
   • Recalling Scenes and Images
     • Studying a picture under time limits
     • Recalling details after the image is removed
   • Detecting Changes and Discrepancies
     • Spotting what changed between two images
     • Identifying missing or added objects
2. 2

   Information Retention

   3 topics

   • Memorizing Written Briefings
     • Retaining names, dates, and locations
     • Recalling case facts from a wanted bulletin
   • Numerical and License-Plate Recall
     • Remembering plate numbers and case IDs
     • Retaining sequences accurately
   • Memory Techniques
     • Chunking and association
     • Focused attention strategies
3. 3

   Observation and Detail

   3 topics

   • Accurate Description of Persons
     • Height, build, clothing, and identifiers
     • Sequence and direction of movement
   • Observing Vehicles and Objects
     • Make, model, color, and damage
     • Recording plates and identifying marks
   • Attention to Environment
     • Noting exits, hazards, and bystanders
     • Recognizing what is out of place

Memory and Observation flashcards for Police Officer Selection Test (POST)

23 of 51 cards from the Memory and Observation deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. In eyewitness memory, what are the three sequential stages of memory processing?

   Encoding (taking in information), storage (retaining it over time), and retrieval (recalling it when needed).

2. When recalling a person's face, which facial features are generally most reliable for identification because they change least over time?

   The eyes, ears, nose shape, and overall bone structure (e.g., brow, cheekbones, jawline) — they are harder to alter than hair, weight, or facial hair.

3. What is the standard top-to-bottom order for systematically describing a person from memory?

   Head/face, then build/body, then clothing from top to bottom (hat, shirt/jacket, pants, shoes), then any distinguishing marks or accessories.

4. In suspect descriptions, what does the acronym SCRIM stand for?

   Sex, Color (race/skin), Race, Identifying marks, and Mannerisms — a memory aid for describing persons.

5. What is the 'weapon focus effect' in eyewitness observation?

   The tendency for a witness's attention to fixate on a weapon, reducing their ability to encode and later recall the offender's face and other details.

6. Define 'distinguishing features' (identifying marks) in a person description.

   Permanent or semi-permanent characteristics such as scars, tattoos, birthmarks, moles, piercings, missing limbs, or unusual gait that help single out an individual.

7. What is the standard format and length of a U.S. license plate that a POST candidate should be able to recall?

   Most U.S. plates are 6–7 characters combining letters and numbers (e.g., ABC-1234); recall typically requires the state, plate number, and color combination.

8. What is 'chunking' as a memory technique for recalling numbers and license plates?

   Grouping a long string of digits or characters into smaller meaningful units (e.g., 482-19-5763 instead of 482195763) to fit working memory limits.

9. According to Miller's Law, how many items can the average person hold in short-term (working) memory?

   About 7 items, plus or minus 2 (the 'magic number seven').

10. What is the method of loci (memory palace) and how is it used to memorize a briefing?

    A technique of mentally placing items to remember along a familiar physical route or location, then 'walking' the route to retrieve them in order.

11. What is the difference between recognition and recall in memory testing?

    Recognition is identifying previously seen information from options (e.g., a lineup); recall is producing information from memory with no cues (e.g., describing a suspect).

12. In observation tests, what does 'attention to detail' specifically measure?

    The ability to notice, accurately encode, and later report small, specific facts about a scene, person, or object despite distractions.

13. What is change blindness in the context of detecting discrepancies?

    The failure to notice a significant change in a visual scene, especially when the change occurs during a brief interruption or shift in attention.

14. When comparing two images to detect discrepancies, what systematic scanning method is recommended?

    Scan in a consistent pattern (e.g., left-to-right, top-to-bottom, or quadrant by quadrant) and compare corresponding regions of each image rather than glancing randomly.

15. What primary vehicle attributes should an officer memorize when observing a car?

    Color, make, model, body style, year/era, license plate, and any distinctive damage, decals, or modifications (CYMBALS-type details).

16. What does the acronym CYMBAL (or CYMBALS) help an observer recall about a vehicle?

    Color, Year, Make, Body type, And, License plate, plus State — the key features of a vehicle to remember.

17. What is the 'serial position effect' in recalling a list or briefing?

    The tendency to best remember items at the beginning (primacy) and end (recency) of a list, while middle items are recalled least well.

18. Define the primacy effect.

    The improved recall of items presented first in a sequence, attributed to greater rehearsal and transfer into long-term memory.

19. Define the recency effect.

    The improved recall of items presented most recently, because they remain in short-term/working memory at the time of retrieval.

20. What is the difference between short-term memory and long-term memory in capacity and duration?

    Short-term memory holds ~7 items for ~15–30 seconds; long-term memory has essentially unlimited capacity and can last from hours to a lifetime.

21. What is rehearsal, and how does it aid memorizing a written briefing?

    Rehearsal is the repeated, active review of information (mental or aloud) that moves it from short-term into long-term memory and strengthens retention.

22. What is the difference between maintenance rehearsal and elaborative rehearsal?

    Maintenance rehearsal is simple repetition to hold information briefly; elaborative rehearsal links new information to existing knowledge for deeper, longer-lasting storage.

23. In a Memory and Observation test, what is the recommended strategy for studying a briefing image or text before questions appear?

    Actively look for and mentally note who, what, where, when, names, numbers, addresses, descriptions, and any unusual details, then rehearse them.

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