Open Ended Questions

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Different questioning styles have also been found to affect the reliability of memory recall in young children (Holliday). When asked open-ended questions both younger and older children provide accurate information (Lamb, Sternberg, Orbach, Espline, Stewart, Mitchell, 2003). However, younger children tend to give more incomplete answers requiring additional prompts by the interviewer when recalling past experiences (Odegarg et al., 2009). This is predictable as childrens linguistic facility improves with age resulting in older childrens answers being more complete than that of younger children (Howitt, 2015). Accounts elicited by open-ended questions are typically more reliable and therefore, a free recall approach should be used when questioning young children (Lamb book). …show more content…
However, the fact that interviewers may use probes to direct the thoughts of very young children puts them at a greater risk of responding in a way that pleases the interviewer, possibly distorting their memories. Hence, in order to increase the credibility of witness statements from young children interviewers are urged to use more open-ended prompts with specific questions being used sparingly (Orbach & Lamb, 2000; Lamb book). Horowitz (2009) suggests an inverted pyramid style of questioning. Investigators should begin by asking open-ended questions, if unsuccessful in generating answers mixed questions should be employed followed by direct questions if necessary. By using this approach to questioning young children, interviewers can get more complete and accurate answers increasing the reliability of witness accounts