Confirmation bias in simulated CSA interviews: How abuse assumption influences interviewing and decision‐making processes?

Zhang, Yikang, Segal, Aleksandr, Pompedda, Francesco ORCID: 0000-0001-9253-0049, Haginoya, Shumpei and Santtila, Pekka (2022) Confirmation bias in simulated CSA interviews: How abuse assumption influences interviewing and decision‐making processes? Legal and Criminological Psychology, 27 (2). pp. 314-328. doi:10.1111/lcrp.12213

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Abstract

Purpose Research has shown that confirmation bias plays a role in legal and forensic decision-making processes and, more specifically, child interviews. However, previous studies often examine confirmation bias in child interviews using non-abuse-related events. We enrich the literature by examining interviewers’ behaviours in simulated child sexual abuse (CSA) cases. Method In the present study, we used data from a series of experiments in which participants interviewed child avatars to examine how an assumption of abuse based on preliminary information influenced decision-making and interviewing style. Interview training data (N interview = 2084) from eight studies with students, psychologists and police officers (N = 377) were included in the analyses. Results We found that interviewers’ preliminary assumption of sexual abuse having taken place predicted 1) a conclusion of abuse by the interviewers after the interview; 2) higher confidence in their judgement; 3) more frequent use of not recommended question types and 4) a decreased likelihood of reaching a correct conclusion given the same number of available relevant details. Conclusion The importance of considering how preliminary assumptions of abuse affect interview behaviour and outcomes and the implications for the training of investigative interviewers were discussed.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Child interviewing; Child sexual abuse; Confirmation bias; Emotions; Mega-analysis
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology. > HV6001 Criminology > HV6250 Victims of Crimes. Victimology
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Research Priority Areas:	Health, Life Sciences, Sport and Wellbeing
Depositing User:	Rhiannon Goodland
Date Deposited:	01 Mar 2022 15:58
Last Modified:	31 Oct 2023 15:38
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/10792

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