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This resource surveys research and guidance on interviewing child witnesses, including techniques that can distort children’s reports. It discusses reinforcement, peer information, speculation, rapport, and open-ended questioning, then includes studies on interviewer practices, remote interviews, and children’s responses to “I don’t know” instructions.
Principles of child forensic interviewing include preparation, developmentally appropriate practice, and careful attention to how information is elicited. The DOJ bulletin summarizes interview stages and cautions about repeated or duplicative questioning, while a research review addresses assumptions about children’s testimonial accuracy.
The study investigates how evaluator attitudes may contribute to bias in forensic child sexual abuse assessments. It surveyed child-maltreatment professionals and identified attitudes related to sensitivity, specificity, and skepticism toward children’s reports, finding that these attitudes helped explain differing credibility judgments across decision exercises.
