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Article
45. The productivity of wh- prompts in child forensic interviews.
Journal of Interpersonal Violence (Published 2018) (2015)
  • Elizabeth C, Ahern, University of Cambridge
  • Samantha J. Andrews, University of Cambridge
  • Stacia N. Stolzenberg, Arizona State University
  • Thomas D. Lyon, University of Southern California
Abstract
Child witnesses are often asked wh- prompts (what, how, why, who, when, where) in forensic interviews. However, little research has examined the ways in which children respond to different wh- prompts and no previous research has investigated productivity differences among wh- prompts in investigative interviews. This study examined the use and productivity of wh- prompts in 95 transcripts of 4- to 13-year-olds alleging sexual abuse in child investigative interviews. What-how questions about actions elicited the most productive responses during both the rapport building and substantive phases. Future research and practitioner training should consider distinguishing among different wh- prompts.
Keywords
  • child abuse,
  • child testimony,
  • child witness,
  • child forensic interviews
Publication Date
November 3, 2015
DOI
10.1177/0886260515621084
Citation Information
Ahern, E.C., Andrews, S.J., Stolzenberg, S.N., & Lyon, T.D. (2018). The productivity of wh- prompts in child forensic interviews. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 33, 2007-2015.