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Detecting deception in children: event familiarity affects criterion-based content analysis ratings
Kathy Pezdek1, Anne Morrow, Iris Blandon-Gitlin
1Department of Psychology, School of Behavioral and Organizational Sciences, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA 91711-3955, USA. kathy.pezdek@cgu.edu
The Journal of Applied Psychology
|February 11, 2004
Summary
Criterion-Based Content Analysis (CBCA) scores are influenced by how familiar an event is to a child. Familiar events yield higher CBCA scores, questioning its forensic use for assessing children's accounts.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Child Development
Background:
- Statement Validity Assessment (SVA) is a system for credibility assessment.
- Criterion-Based Content Analysis (CBCA) is a widely used veracity assessment tool within SVA.
- The forensic application of CBCA relies on its ability to differentiate truthful from deceptive statements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of event familiarity on CBCA scores.
- To test the hypothesis that familiar event descriptions receive higher CBCA scores.
- To evaluate the forensic suitability of CBCA for children's accounts.
Main Methods:
- CBCA scores were applied to transcripts from 114 children.
- Children recalled a routine medical procedure (control), a one-time traumatic procedure (unfamiliar), or a multiple-time traumatic procedure (familiar).
- Statistical analysis examined the relationship between event familiarity, age, and CBCA scores.
Main Results:
- CBCA scores were significantly higher for children recalling familiar events compared to unfamiliar events.
- CBCA scores showed a significant positive correlation with the age of the children.
- These findings indicate that event familiarity influences CBCA scoring.
Conclusions:
- The study raises significant concerns about the forensic validity of CBCA when assessing children's testimonies.
- Event familiarity, rather than veracity, may be a confounding factor in CBCA assessments.
- Further research is needed to refine or validate CBCA for forensic use with children.