Obtaining accurate testimony from young children is a central concern in
a range of criminal, civil, and family court proceedings. But in cases
of physical and sexual abuse, the child victim may be the only
eyewitness. As the incidence of abuse grows, so has the need for
dependable interviewing techniques. The authors of this study—a
multidisciplinary team including researchers in pediatrics, psychology,
law, andeducation—tested several interview protocols in obtaining
children's reports of touch and handling in safe, but sometimes
distressing visits to a pediatric clinic. The authors determined how
multiple interviews and interview strategies (including the use of the
use of such cues as drawings, photos, dolls, and computer programs)
might affect the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of the
children's reports.