Confirmation bias in simulated CSA interviews: How abuse assumption influences interviewing and decision-making processes?
Date
2022
Journal Title
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Publisher
Legal and Criminological Psychology
Abstract
Purpose: Research has shown that confirmation bias plays
a role in legal and forensic decision-making processes and,
more specifically, child interviews. However, previous studies often examine confirmation bias in child interviews
using non-abuse-related events. We enrich the literature by
examining interviewers’ behaviours in simulated child sexual abuse (CSA) cases.
Method: In the present study, we used data from a series of
experiments in which participants interviewed child avatars
to examine how an assumption of abuse based on preliminary information influenced decision-making and interviewing style. Interview training data (N interview = 2084)
from eight studies with students, psychologists and police
officers (N = 377) were included in the analyses.
Results: We found that interviewers’ preliminary assumption of sexual abuse having taken place predicted 1) a conclusion of abuse by the interviewers after the interview; 2)
higher confidence in their judgement; 3) more frequent use
of not recommended question types and 4) a decreased likelihood of reaching a correct conclusion given the same number of available relevant details
Description
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Keywords
International Resources, Europe, research, child sexual abuse, forensic interview, confirmation bias, mega-analysis, emotions
Citation
Zhang, Y., Segal, A., Pompedda, F., Haginoya, S., & Santtila, P. (2022). Confirmation bias in simulated CSA interviews: How abuse assumption influences interviewing and decision‐making processes?. Legal and Criminological Psychology.