In the present study, we hypothesized that child victims' reactions to anatomical
dolls might interact with interviewer’s utterance types. We analyzed child victims’
response types with regard to anatomical dolls’ utterance types, to examine how
an anatomical doll can affect child victims' response, researchers analyzed child victims'
responses according to the presence of the anatomical doll with additional factor,
the type of interviewer’s utterance.
Five video-recorded child sexual abuse victim interviews with an anatomical doll
were analyzed. The victims were from two age groups, 3 years(n=3) and 5
years(n=1), and included one boy. All videotapes were transcribed and two trained
coders categorized verbal and nonverbal responses of the child and investigator. The
trained coders first identified segments where anatomical dolls were used(doll phase)
versus not used(no doll phase). After that, interviewer’s utterances and child victim’s
responses were coded according to a coding scheme.
Descriptive analysis of the data revealed that the interviewers frequently used directive
utterances, option-posing questions, and suggestive questions throughout the
interview. The interviewers employed cued invitation and multiple questions more
in the doll phase than in the no-doll phase.
Child victims showed digressive responses more frequently in the doll phase
than in the no doll phase. It was also found that digressive behaviors tended to appear
with directive utterances, option-posing questions, and suggestive questions by
the interviewers.
The results suggest that in general investigators were less likely to use
open-ended questions when interviewing child victims, especially younger victims. Moreover, when interviewers used anatomical dolls combined with directive or
close-ended utterances, younger children were more likely to become distracted
from the interview. It can be inferred that children younger than 5 years old may
consider the doll as a plaything rather than a demonstrative aid, thus, may not focus
on the interviewer’s words, and may become easily inattentive.
The fact that child victims were not given understandable instructions about the
purpose of an anatomical doll during the interview might have contributed to the
child's digressive responses. There is a limitation of generalizing the results of this
study, however, because of its small sample size. Thus, a further sophisticated field
study with a larger sample would be needed.
In the present study, we hypothesized that child victims' reactions to anatomical
dolls might interact with interviewer’s utterance types. We analyzed child victims’
response types with regard to anatomical dolls’ utterance types, to examine how
an anatomical doll can affect child victims' response, researchers analyzed child victims'
responses according to the presence of the anatomical doll with additional factor,
the type of interviewer’s utterance.
Five video-recorded child sexual abuse victim interviews with an anatomical doll
were analyzed. The victims were from two age groups, 3 years(n=3) and 5
years(n=1), and included one boy. All videotapes were transcribed and two trained
coders categorized verbal and nonverbal responses of the child and investigator. The
trained coders first identified segments where anatomical dolls were used(doll phase)
versus not used(no doll phase). After that, interviewer’s utterances and child victim’s
responses were coded according to a coding scheme.
Descriptive analysis of the data revealed that the interviewers frequently used directive
utterances, option-posing questions, and suggestive questions throughout the
interview. The interviewers employed cued invitation and multiple questions more
in the doll phase than in the no-doll phase.
Child victims showed digressive responses more frequently in the doll phase
than in the no doll phase. It was also found that digressive behaviors tended to appear
with directive utterances, option-posing questions, and suggestive questions by
the interviewers.
The results suggest that in general investigators were less likely to use
open-ended questions when interviewing child victims, especially younger victims. Moreover, when interviewers used anatomical dolls combined with directive or
close-ended utterances, younger children were more likely to become distracted
from the interview. It can be inferred that children younger than 5 years old may
consider the doll as a plaything rather than a demonstrative aid, thus, may not focus
on the interviewer’s words, and may become easily inattentive.
The fact that child victims were not given understandable instructions about the
purpose of an anatomical doll during the interview might have contributed to the
child's digressive responses. There is a limitation of generalizing the results of this
study, however, because of its small sample size. Thus, a further sophisticated field
study with a larger sample would be needed.