NCJ Number
179129
Journal
Law and Human Behavior Volume: 22 Issue: 4 Dated: August 1998 Pages: 369-388
Date Published
August 1998
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study examined the usefulness of the Criteria-based Content Analysis (CBCA) technique when applied to statements made by black persons during investigations of child sexual abuse.
Abstract
The CBCA technique is the core component of Statement Validity Assessment (SVA), an interviewing process that attempts to assess allegations of child sexual abuse for truthfulness. The CBCA has been promoted as a way to detect truth by analyzing the verbal content of such an allegation. However, all conclusions regarding the usefulness of the CBCA have been based on European perspectives, white perspectives, or both. The current study was the first to address the implications of probable differences of verbal content meaning across ethnic groups. The 169 study participants were members of undergraduate introductory psychology classes. The participants read transcripts of statements made by black and white speakers whose race was unknown to the participants. The participants indicated which CBCA criteria were present in each transcript and whether or not they thought that each speaker was truthful. Results failed to support the hypotheses that black speakers' truthful statements contained fewer criteria than whites' statements or that CBCA training would enhance truth detection only of white speakers. Discriminant analysis revealed that CBCA verbal content criteria had different significance for white persons and black persons. Certain CBCA criteria were stronger predictors of truth for one ethnic group than for the other. Findings suggested the need for more research before reliance is placed on the CBCA in criminal investigations. Tables and 11 references (Author abstract modified)