Accuracy of disclosure and contextual control in child abuse: Developing procedures within the stimulus equivalence paradigm.
Date
2000
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Behavior and Social Issues
Abstract
Lack of reliable, nonintrusive disclosure techniques remains an obstacle in
child abuse investigations. Stimulus equivalence procedures have been used to detect a
range of social experiences. This paper explores the role that contextual cues play in the
development of these procedures. Eight 6-9-year-olds were exposed to verifiable social
experiences and then trained to respond differentially to two arbitrary stimuli. Phases 1-3 of
the experiment began with a role-play in the laboratory. In Phase 1, the role-play was
followed by conditional discrimination training; selecting arbitrary stimulus (*) in the
presence of pictures depicting unusual activities in the role-play was reinforced, while
selecting arbitrary stimulus (!) in the presence of other role-play stimuli was reinforced. In
Phase 2, the role-play was followed by a testing procedure. In Phase 3, the two arbitrary
stimuli were established as contextual cues. Following the role-play, accurate disclosure
was reinforced in the presence of (*), while inaccurate disclosure was reinforced in the
presence of (!). In Phase 4, a prearranged role-play took place at each child’s home. Using
the arbitrary stimuli as contextual cues, children were tested for accurate and inaccurate
verbal accounts. All subjects achieved 100% correct responses in Phases 1-3. Four of the 8
subjects scored 100% in Phase 4, whereas the remaining subjects scored between 67% and
94%. Findings are discussed in the context of child abuse.
Description
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Article
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Keywords
disclosure, child sexual abuse
Citation
3. Keenan, M., McGlinchey, A., Fairhurst, C., & Dillenburger, K. (2000). Accuracy of disclosure and contextual control in child abuse: Developing procedures within the stimulus equivalence paradigm. Behavior and Social Issues, 10, 1-17.