The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Swedish legal professionals' opinions on child or adult witness memory-reporting capabilities: using the method of indirect comparisons

På svenska

Author

Summary, in English

Legal professionals' opinions about the memory abilities of child and adult witnesses are important in the legal process. We surveyed 266 legal professionals (Swedish police, prosecutors, and attorneys) and 33 lay judges about their beliefs about child and adult eyewitnesses' recall and metacognitive abilities. Prior research has usually asked for direct comparisons of children and adults but this may be rare in forensic practice. The respondents completed a story questionnaire (about a 9- or 45-year-old person witnessing an event), allowing indirect, or researcher-made, comparisons. In contrast to previous research (direct comparisons), our participants mostly rated children and adults to be on an equal level, but within-group consensus was low. Also, fairly few differences emerged between the groups' beliefs. Finally, the participants' opinions in our study were less in line with results from eyewitness research, compared with previous research using direct comparisons. Implications for legal and research practice are discussed.

Publishing year

2015

Language

English

Pages

392-406

Publication/Series

Applied Cognitive Psychology

Volume

29

Issue

3

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

John Wiley & Sons Inc.

Topic

  • Psychology

Keywords

  • LEGAL professions
  • MEMORY
  • WITNESSES
  • METACOGNITION
  • QUESTIONNAIRES

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0888-4080