Gudjonsson 1998

Question 1

Method

Answer 1

Quasi

Question 2

Sample

Answer 2

160 adults being questioned mainly for property offenses, violence and drugs

84% Male

Question 3

Tests

Answer 3

1 hr of tests,

10-15 min standardised clinical interview

• questions on knowledge of legal rights (scored 1-8)
• gudjonsson suggestibility scale
• speilberger state-trait anxiety inventory(STAI)
• WAIS-R (wechsler adult intelligence scale) (vocals, comprehension and picture
• schonell graded word reading test

Question 4

Procedure

Answer 4

28 individuals classified as vulnerable and their interviews were compared to non-vulnerable group

Police interviews analysed for police tactics

Question 5

Results

Answer 5

3 police tactics: introducing evidence , emphasising seriousness and challenging suspect

60% confessions 25&younger
4x more likely to deny offence with legal representative
3x more likely to confess if reported to have taken illicit drugs in last 24hr
2x likely to deny offence if they had prison experience

Question 6

Aim

Answer 6

To test hypotheses that psychologically vulnerable suspects are particularly likely to confess

Question 7

Conclusions

Answer 7

No significant difference in confessions between vulnerable and non vulnerable groups

Confessions usually made early in which suggests mind already mad up