Witnessing: A Comparison of Adults and Children (From Children, Evidence and Procedure, P 15-21, 1993, Noel K Clark and Geoffrey M. Stephenson, eds. -- See NCJ-150558)

• NCJ Number: 150561
• Author(s): B R Clifford
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 7 pages
• Sale Source: British Psychological Soc
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

Findings of six experiments revealed that the recall and identification ability of adult and child witnesses was different in several respects.

Abstract

The experiments involved adults between 20 and 39 years of age and children between 7 and 18 years of age. Both adults and children were tested using various memory stimuli, including a videotaped television program, videotaped scenes of people engaging in different activities, and conversations. Little evidence was found to indicate that children's recall and identification ability was comparable to that of adults. Further, the type of experimental manipulation, bystander versus involved, did not equate the quality or quantity of adult and child memories. The author contends that the sociology of knowledge may explain the contrast between adult and child recall. Differential memory capacities of adults and children are discussed, and the need for the legal system to be sensitive to the needs of children is stressed. 5 references and 8 tables