Citation

Snow MD, Eastwood J. J. Forensic Psychol. Res. Pract. 2021; 21(2): 131-151.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/24732850.2020.1840000

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Across two studies, we investigated the effect of alibi corroborator age on alibi assessment. In Study 1, we examined the impact of the alibi corroborator's age (i.e., 8- vs. 25-year-old) and relationship with the suspect (i.e., stranger vs. neighbor vs. son) on five dependent measures related to corroborator credibility and suspect guilt. In Study 2, we examined the impact of the corroborator's age (i.e., 4- vs. 8- vs. 25-year-old) and the perceived level of cognition needed to remember the alibi event (i.e., delayed vs. recent event). Participants' perceptions were somewhat more favorable toward the 8-year-old corroborator, compared to a 4- or 25-year-old. The current results help to shed light on an existing inconsistency in the alibi literature regarding the impact of corroborator age on alibi assessment outcomes.

Language: en

Keywords

age; Alibi assessment; believability; child witness; corroborator; credibility