Children's credibility on camera: the influence of age and production factors

Abstract

SUMMARY. An experiment was conducted to examine whether the use of different camera shots‐medium or close‐up‐affected the way in which child witnesses were perceived by adult raters. School children were video‐recorded describing an event in which they had participated, and students rated the children s perceived credibility on a number of scales. Type of shot used did not influence perceived credibility in a consistent manner, although it did influence some aspects of a child's credibility when the child's age and/or sex was taken into account. Children seen in medium shot were judged more honest than children seen in close‐up. Age of the child was the most influential factor, with older children generally perceived as more credible than younger children; this effect was particularly noticeable for girls and children seen in medium shot. The relevance of the current study for the testimony of child witnesses is discussed in the light of current and proposed legal reforms.