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Young Children’s References to Temporal Attributes of Allegedly Experienced Events in the Course of Forensic Interviews
Author(s) -
Orbach Yael,
Lamb Michael E.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01055.x
Subject(s) - psychology , terminology , recall , developmental psychology , child sexual abuse , sexual abuse , forensic science , cognitive psychology , poison control , human factors and ergonomics , linguistics , medicine , philosophy , environmental health , archaeology , history
Developmental differences in references to temporal attributes of allegedly experienced events were examined in 250 forensic interviews of 4‐ to 10‐year‐old alleged victims of sexual abuse. Children’s ages, the specific temporal attributes referenced, and the types of memory tapped by the interviewers’ questions significantly affected the quantity and quality of temporal references produced. The findings documented age‐related increases in 4‐ to 10‐year‐olds’ references to temporal attributes, using the appropriate relational terminology, both spontaneously and in response to temporal requests. More references to temporal attributes were elicited from recall than from recognition memory, highlighting spontaneous reporting capabilities. Implications for theories concerning the developing understanding of temporal concepts and for the design of effective, age‐appropriate, forensic interview techniques are discussed.