Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

35 p.

Publication Date

10-2010

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Source Publication

Journal of Child Sexual Abuse

Source ISSN

1053-8712

Original Item ID

doi: 10.1080/10538712.2010.511988

Abstract

Given that most cases of child sexual abuse lack external corroborating evidence, children's verbal accounts of their experiences are of paramount importance to investigators. Forensic interviewers are charged with interviewing child victims and oftentimes use anatomical dolls. Yet, research on dolls has not caught up to practice in the field. Using a multimethod approach, this study presents new evidence on the function and value of using anatomical dolls as a demonstration aid. With a standardized protocol, forensic interviewers from an urban Midwestern Children's Advocacy Center evaluated the purpose and value of anatomical dolls in a forensic setting. Relationships between child characteristics and interviewer-perceived value were examined using descriptive, bivariate findings and case examples. Using a large and diverse sample of children, the study found that forensic interviewers perceived children as able and willing to use dolls for purposes of clarification, consistency, distancing, and communication. Results are discussed in the context of real-world applications and best practices and provide an evidence-based foundation for future research.

Comments

Accepted version. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, Vol. 19, No. 5 (2010): 519-553. DOI. © 2010 Taylor & Francis (Routledge). Used with permission.

Download
hlavka_1415acc.docx (72 kB)
ADA Accessible Version

Share

COinS