The use of note-taking during forensic interviews: Perceptions and practical recommendations for interviewers

Abstract

The disclosure process for children who have experienced maltreatment is often difficult. In an effort to support children in their disclosures, interviewers have increasingly turned to empirically-based interview protocols (i.e., questioning strategies) that both decrease the suggestibility of questions while also increasing the productivity of children’s statements. Despite efforts to improve the structure of forensic interviews, interviewing support tools, such as note-taking, have received less empirical attention. To date, research examining interviewers’ notes has primarily focused on the accuracy of such records for evidentiary reasons. Yet, note-taking may serve other purposes; for instance, the process of note-taking may increase the accuracy of interviewers’ questions (i.e., use of child’s words) and memory (i.e., follow-up questions and themes) throughout the interview. In the current review, we describe the limited forensic note-taking literature, as well as the potential strengths and weaknesses of note-taking during forensic interviews with children. We end by suggesting potential avenues of research to assist with the creation of practical guidelines for the use of notes during forensic interviews.

White Paper on Forensic Child Interviewing: Research-based recommendations by the European Association of Psychology and Law

“…During the interview, it is advisable to note down keywords mentioned by the child to formulate cued invitations using the same words the child is using. Notetaking has been pointed out as a valuable tool in forensic interviewing, facilitating a more accurate formulation of follow-up questions (Baker et al, 2021;Bearman et al, 2020;Cyr, 2022).…”