TIME DISTORTIONS OF VICTIMIZATION DATA AND MNEMONIC EFFECTS

• NCJ Number: 13515
• Author(s): A D BIDERMAN
• Date Published: 1970
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Bureau of Social Science Research, Inc
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

APPARENT AND SUSPECTED DISTORTIONS IN VICTIMIZATION INTERVIEW DATA, HYPOTHESES REGARDING FACTORS PRODUCING THEM, AND SUGGESTED MEANS FOR THEIR CONTROL BY INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUE.

Abstract

THE OBSERVED TIME DISTORTIONS (SELECTIVE RECALL BY TIME AND BACKWARD AND FORWARD TELESCOPING) ARE HYPOTHESIZED TO INVOLVE TWO DISTINCT PSYCHOLOGICAL COMPONENTS WHICH ARE CALLED (1) THE DEMAND-CHARACTERISTIC EFFECT OF THE INTERVIEW AND (2) THE TEMPORAL MNEMONIC EFFECT. EFFECTS OF THE FIRST TYPE ARE SPECIFIC TO THE INTERVIEW SITUATION. AS IN A GREAT MANY EXPERIMENTAL (AND OTHER) SOCIAL SITUATIONS, THEY INVOLVE THE ACCOMODATION OF THE SUBJECT TO IMPLICIT WISHES OR EXPECTATIONS OF THE INTERVIEWER. THE SECOND BROAD CLASS OF TIME DISTORTIONS TO WHICH INCIDENT INTERVIEWING IS SUBJECT INCLUDES THOSE CONFUSIONS AND DISTORTIONS OF RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE PASSAGE AND ACCUMULATION OF EXPERIENCES BY THE PERSON THROUGH TIME. THE DIFFICULTY IS THAT THE MORE ELABORATE, LENGTHY, SPECIFIC, AND NUMEROUS ARE THE DEVICES USED TO OVERCOME THE TEMPORAL MNEMONIC EFFECTS, THE GREATER THE HAZARD COURTED OF PRODUCING DEMAND CHARACTERISTIC EFFECTS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)