Considering the research on preschoolers' ability to provide accurate testimony about past events, which piece of advice would be the MOST important for an interviewer to be told prior to interviewing a young child?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Asking questions in a neutral manner is the most important advice for an interviewer when interviewing young children about past events, as it reduces the risk of leading or suggestive questioning, which can influence or distort the child's memory and testimony. It is important for the interviewer to avoid using leading questions, repeating questions that the child has already answered and to use open-ended questions that encourage the child to provide their own account of the event. Using a doll may be helpful in making the child comfortable, but it is not necessary for accurate testimony. Knowing the answers to the questions beforehand may bias the interviewer and lead to suggestive questioning, which should be avoided. If the interviewer does not think the child has answered a question accurately, they should not repeat the question, but instead ask for more information or clarification.

Considering the Research on Preschoolers' Ability to Provide Accurate Testimony