Mock Jurors’ Perception of Blind vs. Non-blind Interviewing: The Role of Recantation
Date
2016
Journal Title
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Publisher
Journal of Psychological Inquiry
Abstract
—Decades of cognitive psychology research suggest interviewer expectations may influence a
witness’s statement. In cases of suspected child sexual abuse, a witness’s statement is oftentimes the only
piece of evidence. As such, how the child witness was interviewed becomes of central importance during
court proceedings. The present study examined whether mock jurors evaluate differently the evidentiary
value of a child witness statement as a function of the interviewer’s preconceived notion about the case.
The study also investigated the role of recantation in jurors’ perception of the evidence, resulting in a 2
(pre-informed interviewer vs. not) X 2 (child recanted vs. not) design. Undergraduate students (N= 442)
were presented with 2-page trial summary varying interviewer pre-interview information and child
recantation. They then read Florida jury instructions before being asked to render a verdict in the case,
followed by additional questions and a demographic questionnaire. It was predicted mock jurors would
be sensitive to pre-informed interviewing, if the witness recanted resulting in fewer guilty verdicts and
attribute a lower credibility rating to the witness’s statement in the recantation condition only. Results
indicated mock jurors were sensitive to blind interviewing and recantation in their assessment of the
case, which supports the notion of expectancy effects.
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Keywords
blind interview, forensic interview, recantation, juror decision-making, research
Citation
Campbell, I. L., Rivard, J., & Compo, N. S. (2016). Mock Jurors’ Perception of Blind vs. Non-blind Interviewing: The Role of Recantation. Journal of Psychological Inquiry, 21(2), 15-22.