Linguistic and Socioemotional Influence on the Accuracy of Children's Reports

• NCJ Number: 162889
• Journal: Law and Human Behavior Volume: 20 Issue: 3 Dated: (June 1996) Pages: 335-358
• Author(s): C A Carter; B L Bottoms; M Levine
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 24 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: American Assoc Of University Women; Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Soc of America
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Previously presented in part at the 1992 annual meeting of the American Psychological Association.

Annotation

Following a brief literature review of research on the influence of linguistic complexity and social support on the accuracy of children's reports on events, this article reports on a study of how the use of supportiveness/nonsupportiveness by an adult interlocutor affects a child's accuracy in reporting an event.

Abstract

In this study, 5-year-old to 7-year-old children were interviewed about a standardized play event with free-recall cues and detailed questions that were specific or misleading. Linguistic complexity of questions (complex or simple) and socioemotional context of interview (supportive or intimidating) were varied between subjects. Results show that children were significantly less accurate in reporting on the event when questioned with complex, developmentally inappropriate questions rather than simple questions, yet children rarely voiced their comprehension failures. In addition, children interviewed by a warm, supportive interviewer were more resistant to misleading questions about the event than were children interviewed in an intimidating manner. Theoretical interpretations and implications for investigative interviewing and policy are discussed. 3 tables, appended interview questions as a function of linguistic complexity, and 74 references