Citation

Hardy CL, Van Leeuwen SA. Can. J. Behav. Sci. 2004; 36(2): 155-165.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Canadian Psychological Association, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1037/h0087226

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Four variations on the Step-Wise Interview (Yuille, Hunter, Joffe, & Zaparniuk, 1993) were evaluated to assess effects on young children's eyewitness statements. Children aged approximately 3.0 to 5.5 years and 5.5 to 8.0 years witnessed performances of a story then were randomly assigned to interview protocols. Probe structures and focus of talk during rapport building were manipulated. Relative to older children, younger children reported less information, were less accurate, and less able to resist suggestion. Younger children were least accurate when asked direct probes and given practice recalling a specific past event. Older children were less affected by interview characteristics. Ambiguity in children's statements arose from children's use of ambiguous pronouns. No protocol was superior with respect to risk of suggestibility. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Keywords

Childhood Development; Interpersonal Interaction; Interviewing; Questioning; Witnesses