Forensic interviews with preschool children: An analysis of extended interviews in Norway (2015–2017)
Date
2020
Journal Title
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Applied Cognitive Psychology
Abstract
This study examined the quality of forensic interviews conducted by specially trained
police officers in the Norwegian Barnahus between 2015 and 2017, using the
sequential interview (SI) model, a Norwegian version of the extended interview
model that has not previously been studied. Two hundred and seven interviews of
alleged abused preschool children (3–7 years old) were selected from around the
country. Developmental trends in interview dynamics and the pattern of disclosure
were analyzed. Analyses showed that the interviews were long but involved few
open-ended and many suggestive questions, especially in interviews with the youngest children who did not disclose. Because similar findings were obtained in previous studies of Norwegian interviews not using this model, the findings suggest that
the SI interview model does little to improve the formal quality of forensic interviews
with very young children, and show the need to develop new forms of interviewer
training which are more intensive than those currently employed.
Description
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Keywords
extended interviews, child sexual abuse, forensic interview, International Resources, Norway, research, preschool children, allegation/non-allegation
Citation
Baugerud, G. A., Johnson, M. S., Hansen, H. B., Magnussen, S., & Lamb, M. E. (2020). Forensic interviews with preschool children: An analysis of extended interviews in Norway (2015–2017). Applied Cognitive Psychology, 34(3), 654-663.