Book Description

Previous studies examining factors affecting accuracy of children's eyewitness testimony have consistently found significant age differences in ability to accurately remember and report about experienced events. Some research has also shown that question format has an impact on reports of experienced events, with open-ended questions eliciting mostly accurate, but brief, responses and closed-ended questions producing more detailed accounts of events while increasing likelihood of false reporting. The present study was designed to examine the effects and interaction of both age and question format on accuracy of reports of experienced events. while comparing performance of children at different ages to that of adults. There were no significant age differences in accuracy in reporting and/or identifying target event items, but the youngest age group did report significantly more false events than older children and adults. Participants in the open-ended question format group reported fewer target items than participants in the closed-ended question format group and combined question format group, but reported significantly fewer false events than participants in the closed-ended question format group. Examination of interaction data revealed that question format impacted accuracy only for the youngest participants. The results of the present study suggest that age and question format do affect accuracy of reports of experienced events.