Oral Presentation: Using the Demonstrating for More Detail (DeMo) technique with adolescent eyewitnesses

Title: Using the Demonstrating for More Detail (DeMo) technique with adolescent eyewitnesses

Abstract:

Adolescent eyewitnesses can be less detailed than adults. Whilst there is much research on how specialised interview techniques can facilitate children’s eyewitness recall, there is little to none with adolescents. The current study examined the use of the Demonstrating for More Detail (DeMo) technique: an addition to the Report Everything (RE) instruction, which demonstrates the level of detail required in an interview by the interviewer describing an innocuous object. Participants aged 16 to 19 years-old (N = 75) watched a video of a real-life burglary and were later asked to complete a written interview via their mobile devices following one of three instructions: (a) free recall of the target event without any specific instructions (control); b) RE, or c) RE + the DeMo technique. Preliminary analyses revealed that participants recalled significantly more details (total details, correct details, incorrect details, person details, action details, and object details) in the RE and RE+DeMo groups compared to the control. There was no difference in quantity of detail provided for any type of detail between the RE and RE+ DeMo groups. Overall accuracy did not differ as a function of recall instruction. The implications of using the DeMo technique in investigative interviews with adolescent eyewitnesses will be discussed.