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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

An Experimental Analysis of Children's Ability to Provide a False Report about a Crime
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Published on: May 3, 2016

Forensic Interviewing Aids: Do Props Help Children Answer Questions About Touching?

Debra Ann Poole1, Maggie Bruck, Margaret-Ellen Pipe

  • 1Department of Psychology, Central Michigan University.

Current Directions in Psychological Science
|July 10, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Anatomical dolls and diagrams in forensic interviews do not consistently help children report abuse. These props may increase false reports, prompting a need for new disclosure methods.

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Last Updated: May 20, 2026

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Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Forensic Science
  • Investigative Interviewing

Background:

  • Anatomical dolls and body diagrams are commonly used in forensic interviews, based on the assumption they aid child disclosures of abuse.
  • This practice is widespread despite limited empirical support for its effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of props, such as anatomical dolls and body diagrams, in enhancing children's disclosures of inappropriate touching during forensic interviews.
  • To examine the potential risks associated with prop usage, including the possibility of generating inaccurate reports.

Main Methods:

  • Review of studies involving alleged abuse victims, children undergoing medical examinations, and participants in simulated events.
  • Analysis of evidence regarding the impact of props on the accuracy and completeness of children's accounts of bodily contact.

Main Results:

  • Consistent evidence supporting the benefit of props in improving children's reporting of key information related to bodily contact was not found.
  • Studies indicate that props may increase the likelihood of erroneous touch reports.

Conclusions:

  • The assumption that props are developmentally appropriate for eliciting disclosures in forensic interviews should be reconsidered.
  • Further research is needed to develop and validate alternative, more effective methods for eliciting disclosures of inappropriate touching from children.