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Interviewing young children about body touch and handling
Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Interview strategies significantly impact children's reporting accuracy and completeness. Enhanced interviews with anatomically detailed cues improved recall of body touch, especially for sensitive topics.
Area of Science:
- Child psychology
- Forensic interviewing
- Pediatric research
Background:
- Accurate reporting by children is crucial in pediatric settings.
- Understanding factors influencing children's recall is essential for effective data collection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of different interview strategies on children's report accuracy, completeness, and consistency.
- To assess the impact of interview enhancements and time delays on children's recall.
Main Methods:
- Children aged 3-6 years were interviewed using verbal or enhanced methods (dolls, drawings, computer graphics, photos, props).
- Reports were compared to clinic visit recordings and medical records.
- Interviews were conducted initially, at 1 month, and at 6 months.
Main Results:
- Initial reports were accurate but sparse; accuracy and completeness decreased after 1 month but stabilized.
- Enhanced interviews with anatomically detailed cues improved reporting of body and genital touch.
- Photographs aided in identifying people/places; computer-assisted interviews showed promise for sensitive disclosures.
Conclusions:
- Interview strategy and enhancements significantly affect children's report quality.
- Time delays impact recall, with completeness rebounding at 6 months.
- Child's emotional state and pain ratings influence reporting accuracy and completeness.