Question 1

Research has shown that children _____ sometimes have difficulty distinguishing between imagined and real events.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that children under the age of 5 sometimes have difficulty distinguishing between imagined and real events. It is only around the age of 5 that their ability to understand the difference between reality and fantasy starts to develop.

Question 2

It is important to avoid bias when interviewing a possible victim or witness. This is particularly true with children. One technique that may be used to avoid bias when interviewing children is the National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD) Investigative Interview Protocol. The NICHD Protocol aims to accomplish all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

The NICHD Investigative Interview Protocol does not aim to use closed-ended questions as they can be leading and may limit the child's response. Therefore, the protocol only uses open-ended questions to avoid bias in the interview process.

Question 3

Hearsay testimony is sometimes admissible in trials where a child is an alleged victim because:

Accepted Answer

Hearsay testimony from a child is often allowed in court because children may have difficulty testifying in front of the person who allegedly abused them. This can cause trauma and further harm to the child, and in some cases, may prevent them from testifying at all. Allowing hearsay testimony from a child victim can help protect them and serve justice. B, C, and D are not valid reasons for allowing hearsay testimony.

Question 4

When reviewing sexual abuse testimony given by children at trial, it appears that jurors are _____ to believe young children compared to adolescents.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that jurors are more likely to believe young children (under the age of 7 or 8) than older children or adolescents when it comes to testimony about sexual abuse. This may be due to perceptions of young children as innocent and truthful, and the idea that they may be less likely to fabricate stories for personal gain or attention.

Question 5

Suggestive questions can best be described as _____ leading questions _____.

Accepted Answer

Suggestive questions are questions that include information or suggestions that may influence the response of the person being questioned. These suggestions are not volunteered by the child but are instead included in the question. So, the answer is choice B, which says that suggestive questions are including questions that are not volunteered by the child.

Question 6

There are good reasons why most states allow hearsay testimony when a child is the alleged victim. Which of the following is NOT one of these reasons?

Accepted Answer

All of the other choices provide valid reasons for allowing hearsay testimony from a child victim, as they are intended to protect the child from potential harm or trauma during the legal process. However, allowing hearsay testimony solely to avoid jurors being biased by a child's cuteness is not a legitimate reason.

Question 7

One reason why adult hearsay witness testimony may be perceived differently from that of a child, is that:

Accepted Answer

Adults are generally perceived to be more confident than children due to their age and life experiences. This may lead to the belief that their testimony is more reliable or accurate. However, confidence does not necessarily equate to accuracy or truthfulness.

Question 8

According to the text, children who supposedly suffer from child sexual abuse accommodation syndrome (CSAAS) are likely to show behavioral symptoms that could also be evident in children misled into admitting such abuse. These symptoms include all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

The text states that children who supposedly suffer from CSAAS may exhibit delayed disclosure of abuse, denial that abuse occurred, and recantation of allegations. However, it does not mention that they only mention abuse to peers. This is the only option that is not listed in the text as a symptom of CSAAS.

Question 9

According to the text, children who recant previous allegations of sexual abuse are likely to have been abused by a:

Accepted Answer

According to the text, children who recant previous allegations of sexual abuse are likely to have been abused by a parental figure.

Question 10

Testifying about what someone else said outside of court is called:

Accepted Answer

Testifying about what someone else said outside of court is called hearsay testimony. However, hearsay testimony is generally not admissible unless it falls within one of the many exceptions to the hearsay rule. So, it may or may not be admissible evidence depending on the circumstances.

Question 11

What is the best description of the NICHD Investigative Interview protocol?

Accepted Answer

The NICHD Investigative Interview protocol is designed to reduce biased questioning and elicit true responses from children. It aims to create a supportive environment for children to disclose any abuse they may have experienced.

Answer: B
 The use of closed-ended questions is not a part of the NICHD Investigative Interview protocol as it can lead to suggestive questioning and produce unreliable information.

Answer: C
 The use of Bobo Dolls is not a part of the NICHD Investigative Interview protocol. It is a technique used in the Bobo Doll experiment that aimed to study the effects of aggression on children.

Answer: D
 The NICHD Investigative Interview protocol does not use coercive approaches as it aims to create a supportive environment for children to disclose abuse without any pressure or coercion.

Question 12

It is especially important to record the _____ with the child because _____.

Accepted Answer

The first interview is crucial because it may contain the clearest indicators of the child's truthfulness, as the child's initial reactions and statements are often considered the most genuine.

Question 13

_____ states do not allow an exception to the hearsay rule when a child is the alleged victim.

Accepted Answer

Only nine states in the US have no exception to the hearsay rule when a child is the alleged victim. These states include Arkansas, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Tennessee.

Question 14

Research has demonstrated that some techniques used in interviewing children in abuse cases have proven to be helpful. These techniques include all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Asking the same question more than once can often lead to confusion for the child and could potentially lead to the child changing their answer. The other techniques mentioned, such as simplified instructions, taking an oath to tell the truth, and explicit statements, have been shown to increase the accuracy of child abuse case interviews.

Question 15

According to research noted in the text, jurors that heard both adult hearsay witnesses and child testimony deemed the hearsay testimony:

Accepted Answer

Jurors found hearsay testimony more credible when it was combined with child testimony, indicating that the presence of a child's account can enhance the perceived credibility of hearsay evidence.

Question 16

Two components of the presumed child sexual abuse accommodation syndrome (CSAAS) are the denial of abuse and recantation of abuse. Researchers who analyzed actual interviews with sexually abused children found that, in reality, denial and recantation of abuse:

Accepted Answer

The research found that denial and recantation of abuse were unusual, meaning they are not as common as the CSAAS suggests.

Question 17

According to the text, the use of an anatomically detailed doll with children less than 6 years of age _____ the number of false allegations of sexual abuse.

Accepted Answer

The use of anatomically detailed dolls with children less than 6 years of age increased the number of false allegations of sexual abuse, as young children may not understand the purpose of the dolls and may provide inaccurate information.

Question 18

When NICHD procedures are followed, interviews with children are _____ recorded on video.

Accepted Answer

According to NICHD procedures, interviews with children are almost always recorded on video for accuracy and transparency.

Question 19

"Tell me everything that happened" is an example of an open-ended request, which is considered a(n) _____ prompt in the NICHD protocol.

Accepted Answer

An open-ended request is non-coercive because it allows the person to provide as much or as little information as they feel comfortable with. It does not force them to disclose anything they do not want to.

Question 20

Another way that children are able to testify in a case is through the use of a closed-circuit television (CCTV). Its use allows the judge and jury to see the child without exposing the alleged victim to the emotional trauma that may present itself while in the presence of the defendant. In the case of Maryland v. Craig, the Court decided that the _____ the child _____ the defendant's right to confront his or her accuser.

Accepted Answer

In Maryland v. Craig, the Court decided that the need to protect the child outweighs the defendant's right to confront his or her accuser. This is because the emotional trauma of testifying in court in front of the defendant can be harmful to the child and may prevent the child from being able to testify truthfully. The use of a CCTV allows the child to testify without being exposed to this trauma.

Quiz 11: Section 2: Battered Woman Syndrome, Rape Trauma Syndrome, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder