Åker TH, Johnson MS. Interviewing alleged victims with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities and autism: A field study of police-investigated cases of physical and sexual abuse in a Norwegian national sample.
JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2020;
64:782-792. [PMID:
32840041 DOI:
10.1111/jir.12771]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
People with intellectual disabilities (IDs) or autism are at great risk of being victims of physical and sexual abuse. This study uses transcriptions of real-life investigative interviews to examine the interview techniques (e.g. question type) used in investigative interviews of these groups of alleged victims.
METHODS
A national sample of transcribed investigative interviews (N = 96) of alleged victims with mild ID (n = 48, age 5-70 years old), moderate ID (n = 18, age 14-43 years old) and autism (n = 16, age 5-50 years old) was analysed.
RESULTS
The study shows a preponderance of alleged sexual offences (70.7%) and reveals that open-ended questions account for only 2.6% of the total number of questions asked. The interviewers relied heavily on yes/no (53.4%) and directive questions (32.2%). Suggestive questions (8.6%) were frequently used.
CONCLUSIONS
The use of question type varied considerably within and across the diagnostic group. The study reveals the need for a more in-depth analysis of variables that influence investigative interviews of people with cognitive impairments.
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