Abstract
Simulated interviews in alleged child sexual abuse (CSA) cases with computer-generated avatars paired with feedback improve interview quality. In the current study, we aimed to understand better the effect of different types of feedback in this context. Feedback was divided into feedback regarding conclusions about what happened to the avatar (outcome feedback) and feedback regarding the appropriateness of question-types used by the interviewer (process feedback). Forty-eight participants each interviewed four different avatars. Participants were divided into four groups (no feedback, outcome feedback, process feedback, and a combination of both feedback types). Compared to the control group, interview quality was generally improved in all the feedback groups on all outcome variables included. Combined feedback produced the strongest effect on increasing recommended questions and correct conclusions. For relevant and neutral details elicited by the interviewers, no statistically significant differences were found between feedback types. For wrong details, the combination of feedback produced the strongest effect, but this did not differ from the other two feedback groups. Nevertheless, process feedback produced a better result compared to outcome feedback. The present study replicated previous findings regarding the effect of feedback in improving interview quality, and provided new knowledge on feedback characteristics that maximize training effects. A combination of process and outcome feedback showed the strongest effect in enhancing training in simulated CSA interviews. Further research is, however, needed.
Highlights
The poor quality of investigative interviews in alleged child sexual abuse (CSA) cases is a worldwide problem, as highlighted by several international studies in different countries (e.g., Cederborg et al, 2000; Johnson et al, 2015)
Outcome feedback Participants stated their conclusion regarding the alleged situation and received feedback from the researcher regarding what really had happened to the avatar after each interview
Process feedback Participants stated their conclusion regarding the alleged situation and received feedback on the types of questions they had asked during the interview
Summary
The poor quality of investigative interviews in alleged child sexual abuse (CSA) cases is a worldwide problem, as highlighted by several international studies in different countries (e.g., Cederborg et al, 2000; Johnson et al, 2015). This constitutes a major problem as in a majority of cases the interview with the child is the only available evidence (e.g., Lamb et al, 2008). Feedback in CSA Interviews with Avatars with poor interview quality, several different training programs have been developed. Serious gaming has been successful in changing and maintaining expert behavior in different contexts, in a time-and-cost effective manner (Wouters et al, 2013; van Dijk et al, 2015)
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