Eyewitness testimonies in children

Question 1

Describe the flowchart metaphor

Answer 1

i. Lets say a child hears a word for the first time. It enters through the sensory register (perception and attention). The word then moves through to short term, or working memory, where the new word is then processed. The word may then get transferred to long term memory

Question 2

Define procedural memory

Answer 2

1. implicit knowledge regarding actions, physical skills, and habit
2. expressed through behaviour, no verbal reversal
3. present at birth

Question 3

Define Semantic memory system

Answer 3

1. contains actual learned knowledge
2. not related to time or place
3. emerges with language
4. can lead to making statements suggestive of child abuse

Question 4

Define episodic memory system

Answer 4

1. Most advanced, most relevant to court
2. Mental “time travel” that permits us to think about past episodes
3. emerges between the ages of 2-4 years

Question 5

Describe differences in memory abilities between older and younger children

Answer 5

1. older children retain information over a longer period of time
2. older children report more memories in free and cued recall
3. older children less dependent on external cues to search memories

Question 6

why is episodic memory not always accurate, esp. in younger children?

Answer 6

Because memories are constructive

- meaning we integrate new experiences in light of what we already know

Question 7

How do memories become more constructive?

Answer 7

older kids will have a larger, more elaborate data base by which to analyze events, leading to play a much more active role in processing information, allowing the memories to be stronger

Question 8

what are event scripts?

Answer 8

1. typical sequence of events that describe who a particular scene plays out.
   Older children are more likely to have memorized these

Question 9

what three factors influence a childs testimony?

Answer 9

Encoding, Storage, and retrieval

Question 10

Describe how encoding impacts memory formation

Answer 10

If the child is using selective attention, the child may not have been focussing on the event of interest
If the child is experiencing high levels of stress, memories are less likely to be formed

Question 11

what five factors influence the strength of a memory

Answer 11

1. participant vs. observer
2. amount of exposure
3. the length of delay interval
4. information in memory can be altered between occurrence and retrieval
5. Prior knowledge

Question 12

Describe participant vs. observer

Answer 12

child more likely to remember memory if they are punched vs. seeing someone get punched

Question 13

how does amount of exposure influence the strength of memory

Answer 13

repeated exposures to an event will yield stronger representation and consequently better recall

Question 14

how does length of delay interval influence the strength of memory

Answer 14

the shorter the delay, the more info that will be remembered

the younger the child, the more likely the event will become muddled over time

exception of traumatic events, such as broken arm

Question 15

when are facts more likely to be altered in childs mind?

Answer 15

1. if they are preschool or younger

2. if suggestion that alters facts is presented by an adult or a trusted person

Question 16

What is source monitoring?

Answer 16

1. where the source of info is unconsciously tested to see where the info came from, so for trying to differentiate a memory that happened from something that happened in movie
2. Not present in children under 6

Question 17

Describe how prior knowledge influences the strength of a memory

Answer 17

1) With the passing of time, a memory for a particular episode fades and there is increased reliance on event scripts
2) This means that if a child got abused once right during bed time, the memory might fade, and they would just assume that the events of that night occurred the same as all other nights

Question 18

the impact of biased interviewers on retrieval of memory (5)

Answer 18

1) Since the interviewer might really desire a certain outcome of the conversation, they might lead with questions that will cause the child to answer questions in a way that will confirm their preconceived notions
2) Fail to pursue alternative explanations
3) Use of selective attention and reinforcement of the responses that are consistent with pre-held belief
4) Fail to explore inconsistent or bizarre statements
5) Introduction of information about the suspected perp that portrays him or her in a negative way.

Question 19

what are two other methods use to interview children besides interviews?

Answer 19

1. Projective tests

2. External cues

Question 20

How does language development impact the retrieval of memories?

Answer 20

older children have better narrative skills, which allows them to better report what happened
younger children may not fully understand a question, but answer it anyway

Question 21

how does the personality of the child impact the retrieval of memory

Answer 21

they may be inhibited from sharing stuff in a strange place,

if they have low self esteem they might not divulge much

Question 22

how does shame change the way that children are going to retrieve info?

Answer 22

if the event is shameful, they may not be down to share that bad info