Child Forensic Interviewers' Conceptions of Their Professional Identity: A Guiding Framework

Forensic interviewers face a variety of complex and challenging situations in their role. To help them respond effectively, prioritizing professional identity formation is important. This process involves internalizing the core values, characteristics, and behaviors of the profession. The first step in facilitating this formation is identifying and delineating the core attributes of the profession, which was the focus of the current study. Twenty-one practitioners, recognized for their expertise in interviewing children, were asked about their approach to conducting interviews, and their responses were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis to identify how they conceived their professional identity. The findings indicated that the practitioners perceived their professional identity in consistent ways, most notably in the role of a temporary holder of information, a protector of the evidence, and professionals who prioritize the child. These core values, characteristics, and behaviors align with both best-practice interviewing principles and victims' reported needs. Future development of the framework delineated in this study holds promise for assisting interviewers in flexibly navigating the complexities and challenges of their role.