Abstract
In a criminal proceeding, a witness is considered reliable if he/she can provide a coherent narrative of the events. The present study aimed to confirm the effects of age, PTSD, and questioning style on narrative coherence. 82 trial depositions of children (M = 9.9 years) were analyzed, coding through the Narrative Coherence Coding Scheme. The analyses revealed a positive correlation between narrative coherence and age, and a negative correlation between age and post-traumatic symptomatology. Open-ended questions were negatively associated with coherence; instead close-ended/option-posing questions and free invitations were positively associated with coherence. The theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-20 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2024 |
Keywords
- Narrative coherence
- child sexual abuse
- questioning style
- post-traumatic stress disorder
- age
