Interviewing Children: The Science of Conversation in Forensic Contexts - Paperback

by Debra Ann Poole (Author), Jason J. Dickinson (Author)

Interviewing Children is an accessible guide for forensic interviewers, clinicians, attorneys, and other professionals who rely on children's testimony.

• Sample dialogues that help flesh out and illustrate research-based recommendations for practice
• quick guides that synthesize core ideas and skills
• "Principles to Practice" sections that answer questions about child interviewing; and
• a comprehensive appendix of learning activities readers can use to sharpen their interviewing skills.

The primary goal of all conversations with child witnesses is to help children describe events in their lives as completely, accurately, and unambiguously as they can. But common obstacles can make this task difficult, if not impossible. Interviewing Children offers a comprehensive look at the science of conversation with children in forensic contexts and provides the research-based tools and practices for navigating these obstacles.

Author Biography

Debra A. Poole, PhD, is an emeritus professor of psychology at Central Michigan University. After receiving a doctorate in developmental psychology from the University of Iowa, her laboratory studied children's eyewitness testimony and the impact of interviewing techniques on young witnesses' reports. Her research, funded by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Science Foundation, has explored the impact of repeated questioning, how children respond to different question forms, the influence of misinformation from parents on children's event narratives, the risks and benefits of interview aids, and children's eyewitness reports during tele-forensic interviews. She has worked with policy groups to craft interview protocols and has served on the editorial boards of Law & Human Behavior and Psychology, Public Policy, & Law.