In a criminal proceeding, a witness is considered reliable if he/she can provide a coherent narrative of the events. The present study aimed to confirm the effects of age, PTSD, and questioning style on narrative coherence. 82 trial depositions of children (M = 9.9 years) were analyzed, coding through the Narrative Coherence Coding Scheme. The analyses revealed a positive correlation between narrative coherence and age, and a negative correlation between age and post-traumatic symptomatology. Open-ended questions were negatively associated with coherence; instead close-ended/option-posing questions and free invitations were positively associated with coherence. The theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.
Miragoli, S., Badino, V., Camisasca, E., Coherence in Children’s Reports of Sexual Abuse: Age, PTSD, and Questioning Style, <<JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH AND PRACTICE>>, 2024; (9): 1-20. [doi:10.1080/24732850.2024.2364277] [https://hdl.handle.net/10807/292576]
Coherence in Children’s Reports of Sexual Abuse: Age, PTSD, and Questioning Style
Miragoli, SarahPrimo
;Badino, VittoriaSecondo
;
2024
Abstract
In a criminal proceeding, a witness is considered reliable if he/she can provide a coherent narrative of the events. The present study aimed to confirm the effects of age, PTSD, and questioning style on narrative coherence. 82 trial depositions of children (M = 9.9 years) were analyzed, coding through the Narrative Coherence Coding Scheme. The analyses revealed a positive correlation between narrative coherence and age, and a negative correlation between age and post-traumatic symptomatology. Open-ended questions were negatively associated with coherence; instead close-ended/option-posing questions and free invitations were positively associated with coherence. The theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.
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