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Published on: May 3, 2016
Age and interviewer behavior as predictors of interrogative suggestibility.
Karolina Dukala1, Romuald Polczyk
1Correspondence should be addressed to Karolina Dukala, Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Al. Mickiewicza 3, 31-120 Cracow, Poland.
Summary
Interviewer behavior and participant age significantly impact interrogative suggestibility. Elderly individuals are more susceptible to suggestive questioning, especially with abrupt interviewers, highlighting the need for a friendly approach.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
Background:
- Interrogative suggestibility is a key factor in witness testimony.
- The influence of interviewer demeanor and participant age on suggestibility requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how interviewer behavior (abrupt vs. friendly) and participant age affect interrogative suggestibility.
- To explore the mediating roles of memory quality and self-appraisal in these relationships.
Main Methods:
- A 2-factor between-subjects design was employed with 42 young adults and 50 elderly participants.
- The Gudjonsson Suggestibility Scale 2 was administered.
- Mediation analysis was used to analyze the data.
Main Results:
- Elderly participants exhibited lower memory scores and higher suggestibility scores compared to younger adults.
- Suggestibility was higher in the abrupt interviewer condition than in the friendly condition.
- Elderly participants under abrupt conditions were more prone to change answers after negative feedback, with memory quality and self-appraisal of memory acting as mediators.
Conclusions:
- Age and interviewer behavior interact to influence suggestibility through memory-related mediators.
- A friendly interviewer approach is recommended to minimize suggestibility, particularly with elderly witnesses.
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