When Questioning Children

When it comes to questioning and interrogation techniques with children, experts, scholars, and practitioners widely agree that maintaining a neutral and unbiased approach is of utmost importance. Research has shown that certain factors can undermine the neutrality of an interview and create undue suggestiveness, potentially leading to inaccurate or unreliable information. In this blog post, we will explore these factors and their implications.

Factors that Undermine Neutrality

1. Lack of Investigatory Independence

One factor that can compromise the neutrality of an interview is the lack of investigatory independence. When the interviewer is not independent from the investigation, there is a risk of bias influencing the questioning process. It is crucial for the interviewer to approach the interview with an open mind and without any preconceived notions about what may have happened.

2. Pursuit of Preconceived Notions

Another factor that can undermine neutrality is when the interviewer actively pursues a preconceived notion of what happened. This can lead to selective questioning and a focus on obtaining information that aligns with the interviewer's preconceived beliefs. It is important for interviewers to remain objective and refrain from seeking confirmation of their own assumptions.

3. Lack of Control for Outside Influences

The presence of outside influences on a child's statements can also compromise the neutrality of an interview. Children are susceptible to suggestion, and their responses can be influenced by various external factors such as leading questions from adults, media exposure, or peer pressure. It is essential for interviewers to carefully control for these influences and ensure that the child's statements are not contaminated by external sources.

4. Lack of Control for Cooperative Conversationalist Effects

Cooperative conversationalist effects refer to the tendency of individuals to provide answers that they believe the interviewer wants to hear. This can occur when the child perceives the interviewer's expectations or desires and adjusts their responses accordingly. Interviewers should be aware of this effect and strive to create an environment that encourages the child to provide honest and accurate information, rather than simply trying to please the interviewer.

5. Lack of Control for Source Monitoring Failures

Source monitoring failures can occur when a child has difficulty distinguishing between their own experiences and information they have been exposed to from external sources. This can lead to the incorporation of false memories or misinformation into their statements. Interviewers need to be cautious and employ techniques that help the child accurately recall and report their own experiences, while minimizing the risk of incorporating external information.

6. Use of Leading Questions

The use of leading questions is a well-known factor that can undermine the neutrality of an interview. A leading question is one that suggests a particular answer or contains information that may influence the child's response. Interviewers should avoid using leading questions and instead ask open-ended and non-suggestive questions that allow the child to provide their own unbiased account of events.

7. Use of Repeated Questions

Repeated questioning can also impact the neutrality of an interview. When a child is repeatedly asked the same question, there is a risk of their answers being influenced or altered by the repetition itself. Interviewers should strive to ask questions in a clear and concise manner, avoiding unnecessary repetition that may lead to confusion or suggestiveness.

Conclusion

Maintaining neutrality in questioning and interrogation techniques with children is crucial for obtaining accurate and reliable information. Factors such as lack of investigatory independence, pursuit of preconceived notions, lack of control for outside influences, cooperative conversationalist effects, source monitoring failures, use of leading questions, and repeated questions can all undermine the neutrality of an interview. By being aware of these factors and implementing appropriate strategies, interviewers can ensure that the information obtained from children is as unbiased and reliable as possible.