ANATOMICALLY DETAILED DOLLS AND THE EVALUATION OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS - PSYCHOMETRIC CONSIDERATIONS

Although anatomically detailed dolls are becoming the most commonly us ed tool in the validation of sexual abuse allegations, their use is no t without significant problems. This evaluation of the psychometric pr operties of the dolls using the existing empirical literature reveals that there is considerable difficulty in the standardization of the do lls, administration and scoring procedures, and training in the dolls' use. Furthermore, appropriate norms have not been developed. Although good interobserver reliability has been reported, the construct and c riterion-related validity has not been demonstrated consistently. The current lack of an empirically based psychometric foundation does not support the use of the dolls in validation interviews, nor the admissi bility of doll-based evidence in legal proceedings.