Oral Presentation: Social workers’ knowledge about children’s memory and investigative interviewing

Title: Social workers’ knowledge about children’s memory and investigative interviewing

Abstract:

The Child Protective Services (CPS) can be prominent actors in child sexual abuse (CSA) investigations as they often conduct the first safety assessment upon receiving a report of concern for a child. As part of this assessment, CPS may conduct an investigative interview with the child. However, to date, little is known about how these interviews are conducted. The present study aimed to shed light on Swedish social workers’ experience interviewing children and knowledge about children’s memory and witness abilities. A total of 204 social workers participated in an online survey, answering questions concerning memory functioning and child investigative interviewing. The main findings were a lack of standardized interviewing guidelines, with CPS workers instead using various interviewing techniques with limited empirical support. Participants mentioned insecurities regarding posing good, non-leading questions, and some expressed feeling unequipped interviewing children. Further, participants’ knowledge regarding children’s memory varied. Many expressed awareness that memories can be vulnerable to suggestions and that emotions cannot verify a memory’s authenticity. However, participants were more insecure regarding the possibilities to repress and, subsequently, recover memories. Implications for children’s need for protection and legal certainty are discussed.