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Abstract(s)
Entrevistar testemunhas oculares é um procedimento crucial para uma investigação policial, determinando por vezes o seu desfecho. É fundamental a aplicação de técnicas eficazes na condução de uma entrevista, maximizando a quantidade e precisão da informação relatada. Entrevistar crianças constitui um desafio acrescido para os profissionais, sendo essencial que os investigadores disponham de orientações adequadas para conduzir entrevistas de testemunhas com crianças.
O presente estudo focou-se na comparação de duas técnicas de entrevista forense: a Recuperação por Categorias (RC) e o Relato Livre (RL). Foi igualmente analisada a influência das competências mnésicas e linguísticas, na quantidade e na qualidade da informação relatada.
Trinta e nove crianças entre os 6 e os 9 anos de idade, participaram em duas sessões com 24h de intervalo entre si. Na primeira sessão foram administrados instrumentos de avaliação do Quociente de Inteligência (QI) Verbal (WISC-III) e, da capacidade mnésica (Figura Complexa de Rey), sendo também visualizado um vídeo de um evento neutro. Na segunda sessão, foram conduzidas entrevistas utilizando as técnicas de RC ou de RL.
A quantidade e qualidade do relato não foram influenciadas pelas técnicas RC e RL. A idade revelou ser um fator determinante para a quantidade e a precisão do relato, assim como para a certeza da informação relatada. O desempenho na prova de memória foi também influenciado pela idade da criança e, o QI Verbal influenciou a informação relatada sobre os locais presentes no vídeo observado.
The interviewing of eyewitnesses is crucial procedure in a police investigation, determining sometimes its outcome. It is essential to apply effective techniques when conducting an interview, to maximize the quantity and accuracy of the information reported. Interviewing children represents an additional challenge for professionals. It is thus essential that investigators have adequate guidance on how to conduct witness interviews with children, when they are victims or witnesses of a crime. The present study focused on comparing two forensic interview techniques: Category Clustering Recall (CCR) and the Free Recall (FR). We analyzed the influence of children’s memory and language skills on the quantity and quality of the information reported during the interview. Thirty-nine children between 6 and 9 years old participated in two sessions with a 24-hour delay. In the first session we assessed children’s verbal IQ (WISC-III) and memory capacity (Complex Figure of Rey) and then showed them a video of a neutral event. In the second session, each child was interviewed with either the CCR or the FR techniques. The quantity and the quality of the information reported by children did not differ between the CCR and FR techniques. Age determined the completeness and the accuracy of children’s reports, as well as the certainty over the reported information. Performance in the memory test was influenced by the children’s age. Children’s verbal IQ influenced the reported information regarding the locations present in the observed video.
The interviewing of eyewitnesses is crucial procedure in a police investigation, determining sometimes its outcome. It is essential to apply effective techniques when conducting an interview, to maximize the quantity and accuracy of the information reported. Interviewing children represents an additional challenge for professionals. It is thus essential that investigators have adequate guidance on how to conduct witness interviews with children, when they are victims or witnesses of a crime. The present study focused on comparing two forensic interview techniques: Category Clustering Recall (CCR) and the Free Recall (FR). We analyzed the influence of children’s memory and language skills on the quantity and quality of the information reported during the interview. Thirty-nine children between 6 and 9 years old participated in two sessions with a 24-hour delay. In the first session we assessed children’s verbal IQ (WISC-III) and memory capacity (Complex Figure of Rey) and then showed them a video of a neutral event. In the second session, each child was interviewed with either the CCR or the FR techniques. The quantity and the quality of the information reported by children did not differ between the CCR and FR techniques. Age determined the completeness and the accuracy of children’s reports, as well as the certainty over the reported information. Performance in the memory test was influenced by the children’s age. Children’s verbal IQ influenced the reported information regarding the locations present in the observed video.
Description
Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no ISPA – Instituto Universitário para obtenção de grau de Mestre na especialidade de Psicologia Clínica.
Keywords
Entrevista forense Crianças testemunhas Recuperação por categorias Relato livre Características desenvolvimentais Forensic interview Child witnesses Category clustering recall Free recall Developmental characteristics