CONDUCTING INVESTIGATIVE INTERVIEWS OF ALLEGED SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIMS

Objectives: There were two aims: First, to describe the factors that i nfluence children's competence and second, to discuss ways in which in vestigative interviewers can maximize the quality and quantity of info rmation they obtain from alleged witnesses and victims. Method: No new research is described in this paper. Rather, the authors provide a fo cused review of the relevant literature designed to be maximally usefu l for practitioners. Conclusions: Children are often the only availabl e sources of information about possible abusive experiences. Research has shown that children can, in fact, be remarkably competent informan ts, although the quality and quantity of the information they provide is greatly influenced by the ways in which they are interviewed. This article describes ways in which investigative interviewers can maximiz e the amount and quality of information they elicit from alleged victi ms. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.