Background
information.
-Usual
lab setting: the typical procedure testing children’s memories of an event
involves the child in a controlled event (like playing) and later interview
them about their memory of the event.
-Also,
children have been interviewed after a stressful event (i.e. getting a
shot at the doctor). The differences between these scenarios and child
abuse are that, child abuse usually involves secrecy, shame and lack of
emotional support.
Related
case studies: Terr 1983,88, & 91), suggest that children who suffered
a single traumatic event have clear and accurate for the event, but children
who suffered repeated trauma tended to have poor memory of the events.
Jones
and Krugman (1986), provide evidence that even very young children can
give accurate recall of a traumatic event with a case study of 3 yr old
boy who was abducted, assaulted, and left to die.
Clarified
Terms
Omission
error- when there was evidence for abuse but no allegations were made.
The
victims. The
Perpetrators.
Sarah-
14-15 yr old John,
Alfred, Derek, Harold, Michael, and
Anne
13-14 yr old two
others.
Paula
12-13 yr old
Mandy
8 yr old
During the course of abuse, the main perpetrator (John) took numerous photographs of the girls as well as recording them on audiotapes.
The
girls were interviewed by the police and later during a deposition by lawyers.
The deposition contained more questions and more interviews than did the
police interview.
70
different coded categories were made.
43
were sexual in nature
23
involved a victim and a perpetrator
623
total photos
77audiotapes
Also
coded were presence of photographs, making 112 categories in total.
Allegations
were either supported (with audiotapes and/or photographs) or not supported
Correct
Rejection-
Victim denied an act and there was no evidence
Incorrect
Rejection-Victim
denied a supported act.
85.6% supported sexual acts, 42.9% supported coercive acts, 82.5% supported preparatory acts, 90% supported ‘other’ acts.
Supported/Unsupported
allegations for each individual victim--: Table 2, Pg 206.
The
eight year olds allegations were supported less, but she was also was not
involved as long, nor as extensive as the others were. -Less omission errors
occurred with this victim.
Audiotape
evidence was also scarce.
Ten
instances appeared where a victim denied an act and there was no evidence
for the contrary, suggesting clear memories.
Three
instances of denial of an act supported by evidence occurred.
A
repeated measures ANOVA was ran on level of support for allegations made
once or more than once, not showing a significant difference for likelihood
of supportive evidence F (1,3)=2.67
No
effects on allegations made due to seeing photos between the police interview
and the deposition were observed.
The
accuracy of the victims in this case compared well to the Yuille &
Cutsall study, where people were actively involved in a salient event recovering
85% detail. However, unsupported allegations of the victims in the current
study exceeded that of a 13yr old girl abused by her grandfather.
Coercive
acts were least supported,
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