Document Detail


Interviewing children about trauma: problems with "specific" questions.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  9136092     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
A methodological ambiguity is described that may well adversely affect the quality of information provided by young child witnesses. Because the information children provide during interviews is sometimes the only evidence in forensic situations, its quality is a serious concern. "Specific" questions are often necessary to elicit enough information, but we describe a confusion between wh- questions (which request particular information) and yes/no questions (which merely require confirmation or disconfirmation). Research in which children are systematically interviewed about stressful medical experiences is reviewed, and we present results of a pilot investigation in which 2- to 13-year-old children were interviewed about traumatic injuries necessitating hospital treatment. Yes/no questions were problematic for preschoolers. Implications for testimony are discussed.
Authors:
C Peterson; M Biggs
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of traumatic stress     Volume:  10     ISSN:  0894-9867     ISO Abbreviation:  J Trauma Stress     Publication Date:  1997 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1997-07-22     Completed Date:  1997-07-22     Revised Date:  2007-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8809259     Medline TA:  J Trauma Stress     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  279-90     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Age Factors
Analysis of Variance
Child
Child Psychology
Child, Preschool
Emergency Service, Hospital
Female
Humans
Interviews as Topic / methods*
Male
Pilot Projects
Wounds and Injuries*

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