The effect of uniform and prior knowledge on children's event reports and disclosure of secrets |
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Authors: | Martine B Powell J Clare Wilson Catherine M Croft |
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Institution: | (1) University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia;(2) School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, 3125 Burwood, Australia |
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Abstract: | The present paper examined the effect of police uniform on the accuracy of 6- to 8-year-old children's reports about an event
and it explored the roles that interviewer prior knowledge and social status play in mediating any effects of uniform. Two
studies were conducted; in the first study, interviewers wore uniforms that were independent of a forensic context whereas
in the second study, the interviews were conducted by police officers who wore either uniform or civilian clothes. Children
reported more information (accurate, as well as inaccurate) to a police interviewer in civilian clothes compared to uniform.
This finding was found only in the police uniform context. Interviewer's prior knowledge had no impact on the children's reports
in either context. The likely impact of police uniform is discussed.
Authors' Note: Thanks to many teachers, principals and children who volunteered to partake in this project and to Sarah Agnew, Greg Angenent,
Catherine Borg, Sue Connor, Agnes Kalinowski, Joanna Kellis and Vivian Mikhail who assisted in the data collection, coding
and analysis. Thanks also to the members of the Victorian Police (Community Policing Squad) who conducted interviews for this
project, and to Sergeant Lisa McMeeken, and Senior Constable Jennifer Evans of the VATE project who coordinated the police
interviews. |
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