Courtroom Interrogation of Rape Victims - Verbal Response Mode Use by Attorneys and Witnesses During Direct Examination vs Cross-Examination

• NCJ Number: 88666
• Journal: Journal of Applied Social Psychology Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Dated: (January-February 1983) Pages: 78-87
• Author(s): K J McGaughey; W B Stiles
• Date Published: 1983
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study coded the verbal behavior of attorneys and witnesses (rape victims) in direct and cross-examinations according to a taxonomy of verbal response modes (VRM's).

Abstract

Significant differences were found between the verbal behavior of attorneys and witnesses on direct and cross-examination. The differences are those that would be expected on the basis of the advice given by legal authors concerning the techniques that should be used in the two types of interrogation. The VRM's reflect the different techniques that attorneys use in their efforts to influence jurors' impressions of witnesses' credibility. Tables, 1 footnote, and 29 references are supplied. (Author abstract modified)