Investigative Interviewing of Aboriginal Children in Cases of Suspected Sexual Abuse

ABSTRACT

This study examined the investigative interviewing of Australian Aboriginal children in cases of alleged sexual abuse, with a focus on three commonly included components of interview protocols: ground rules, practice narrative, and substantive phase. Analysis of 70 field transcripts revealed that the overall delivery and practice of ground rules at the beginning of the interview was positively associated with the spontaneous usage of rules in children’s narratives of abuse. When specifically examining the “don’t know” rule, however, only practice had an effect of children’s usage of the rule (as opposed to simple delivery or no delivery at all). Children spoke more words overall, and interviewers used more open-ended prompts during the substantive phase when the interviews contained a practice narrative. Children most often disclosed sexual abuse in response to an open-ended prompt; however, they produced the most words in response to suggestive prompts. This article concludes with a discussion of the effectiveness of ground rules, practice narratives, and questioning with Aboriginal children.

KEYWORDS:

• child
• field study
• ground rules
• indigenous
• interview
• practice narratives
• questioning

Acknowledgments

This research was conducted for the PhD dissertation of Gemma Hamilton. We thank the Aboriginal organizations and peoples who offered their time and guidance during the consultation process. We also thank Mathew Ling for his statistical advice and Jaime Ryan for her help with data collection. We wish to pay our respects and acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are the traditional custodians of Australia.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gemma Hamilton

Gemma Hamilton is a PhD candidate and sessional academic in the School of Psychology, Deakin University. Her current research interests are in the areas of child investigative interviewing and violence against women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Sonja P. Brubacher

Sonja Brubacher, PhD, is a lecturer at Deakin University and a researcher and trainer with the Centre for Investigative Interviewing. Her current research interests focus on understanding the cognitive foundations underlying children’s autobiographical memory development and the sociomotivational factors that influence how memories are reported. She received her PhD from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Martine B. Powell

Martine Powell, PhD, is a professor in the School of Psychology at Deakin University and the founding director of the Centre for Investigative Interviewing. Her current research interests focus on investigative interviewing, particularly of children and vulnerable witnesses and in cases of sexual offenses and child abuse. She received her PhD from Monash University.