The NICHD investigative interview protocol: an analogue study

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Forensic Interviewing
• Developmental Science

Background:

• Effective interviewing of children is crucial for gathering accurate information in legal and clinical settings.
• The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Investigative Interview Protocol is a widely used method for interviewing children.
• Understanding how different prompting strategies affect children's recall and accuracy is essential for improving investigative techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of different prompting styles (invitational vs. directive) on the detail and accuracy of children's accounts.
• To assess the effect of preparatory practice (with or without practice) on children's responsiveness during NICHD interviews.
• To determine how the order of questioning (true vs. false event) influences accuracy in children's testimony.

Main Methods:

• One hundred twenty-eight children aged 5-7 years were interviewed using the NICHD Protocol.
• Children received preparation using either invitational or directive prompting, with or without practice describing events.
• Interviews assessed recall of a staged event occurring 4-6 weeks prior, with variations in prompt type and questioning order.

Main Results:

• Invitational prompts elicited more detailed responses than directive prompts without compromising accuracy.
• Preparation including practice with invitation prompts led to the most responsive and detailed accounts.
• Children demonstrated high overall accuracy, with errors typically concerning peripheral details and more frequent with directive/yes-no questions.

Conclusions:

• The method of preparation and prompting significantly influences the detail and quality of children's accounts in NICHD interviews.
• Invitational interviewing techniques and practice-based preparation are recommended for maximizing detailed and accurate information from child witnesses.
• Careful consideration of questioning strategies is vital to minimize errors and ensure the reliability of information obtained from children.