The relationship between interview characteristics and accuracy of recall in young children: do individual differences matter?

Full Abstract

The relationship between interview characteristics and accuracy of recall in young children, as mediated by child characteristics, was examined. The interview characteristics included preinterview instructions and level of questioning. Fifty-six children ranging from ages 3 to 6 years participated in a Circus Day event and were interviewed 10 days later. Following either instructions or filler questions, children were questioned about the event. Results indicated that based on several individual difference factors, young children varied significantly in the accuracy of their interviews and their ability to resist misleading questions. However, individual differences did not mediate children's ability to benefit from different question types or preinterview instructions. As a whole, children provided limited information to the most open-ended questions and more correct information to highly structured questions. In contrast to the research with older children, younger children did not benefit from preinterview instructions. Suggestions for future research and implications for investigative interviews in the field of child abuse are discussed.

Author information

Author/s: Geddie, L F (LF); Beer, J (J); Bartosik, S (S); Wuensch, K L (KL);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Dayton, 300 College Park, Dayton, OH 45420, USA. lane.geddie(-atsign-)notes.udayton.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Validation Studies

Journal: Child maltreatment (Child Maltreat), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2001-Feb; vol 6 (issue 1) : pp 59-68

Dates: Created 2001/02/19; Completed 2001/03/01; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 11217171, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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