Exactitud del testimonio infantil: diferencias a partir de prácticas correctivas y prácticas incorrectas en la técnica de entrevista

Abstract

In order to provide the theoretical framework of the psychology of testimony and extend the reflections of the appropriate collection practices of child witness in the legal contexts, this study aimed to establish the existence of differences in accuracy of child testimony according to the procedure used in the interview. Participants were 60 children aged between 3 and 8 years; forming three subgroups covering different age ranges (3 to 4 years, 5 to 6 years and 7 to 8 years) to analyze the accuracy of testimony from differences in ages. According to the characteristics of this subject and the variables used, forensic interview and accuracy of child testimony, this research was conducted with a quantitative methodology and adopting a comparative study using a quasi-experimental design; two different forensic interview protocols, one containing good practice and one with bad practices, both covered from the contributions of literature, were applied to the participants; the facts which the questions were represented animated children's stories, one for each type of interview. The results of this research showed significant differences between the two types of interview; good practice with greater accuracy increases as the age and level of education whereas improper practices accuracy were undiscriminating of age or grade level of the child is observed.