Modern Psychological Studies
Periodical Title
Modern Psychological Studies
Volume
11
Number
2
Page Numbers
pages 37-48
Publisher
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Place of Publication
Chattanooga (Tenn.)
Date
2006
Abstract
Age-related expectations of credibility were examined in a child witness study. The within-subjects factors were witness age (4, 8, 12, 16, 20 years) and type of credibility rating (honesty vs. cognitive ability). The between subjects factors were type of assault (physical vs. sexual), role of witness (victim vs. bystander), and participant gender. Men (n = 31) and women (n = 61) from a first-year psychology course read vignettes describing a crime (adapted from Nightingale, 1993) and rated the witness' cognitive ability and honesty at each age (adapted from Ross, Lindsay, & Marsil, 1996). The results indicated that the witness was perceived to be more honest and more cognitively able as she aged. Similarly, defendant guilt ratings rose as the witness aged. Women gave higher cognitive ability and honesty ratings than did men. Suggestions for future research on witness credibility and the implications for the judicial system are discussed.
Subject
Psychology
Discipline
Psychology
Document Type
article
DCMI Type
Text
Extent
12 leaves
Language
English
Call Number
BF1 .M63 v. 11 no. 2 2006
Rights
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Recommended Citation
Allison, Meredith and Lindsay, R. C. L.
(2006)
"Age-related expectations of child witness credibility,"
Modern Psychological Studies: Vol. 11:
No.
2, Article 5.
Available at:
https://scholar.utc.edu/mps/vol11/iss2/5
Department
Dept. of Psychology