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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

An Experimental Analysis of Children's Ability to Provide a False Report about a Crime
Published on: May 3, 2016
Coaching, truth induction, and young maltreated children's false allegations and false denials
Thomas D Lyon1, Lindsay C Malloy, Jodi A Quas
1University of Southern California Law School, University of Southern California, 699 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0071, USA. tlyon@law.usc.edu
Abstract:
This study examined the effects of coaching (encouragement and rehearsal of false reports) and truth induction (a child-friendly version of the oath or general reassurance about the consequences of disclosure) on 4- to 7-year-old maltreated children's reports (N = 198). Children were questioned using free recall, repeated yes-no questions, and highly suggestive suppositional questions. Coaching impaired children's accuracy. For free-recall and repeated yes-no questions, the oath exhibited some positive effects, but this effect diminished in the face of highly suggestive questions. Reassurance had few positive effects and no ill effects. Neither age nor understanding of the meaning and negative consequences of lying consistently predicted accuracy. The results support the utility of truth induction in enhancing the accuracy of child witnesses' reports.
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