Child forensic interviews with pictures as augmentative and alternative communication
Short description
The project “Child forensic interviews with pictures as augmentative and alternative communication” aims to investigate whether children who need extra communicative support could be given better conditions during child forensic interviews with the help of pictures. The project consists of four studies on children's understanding of images as a means of communication, the effects of pictures as augmentative and alternative communication on the detail and accuracy of children's statements, and the views of legal actors on the use of images in child interviews.
Background and purpose
The project consists of studies on children's understanding of pictures as a means of communication, the effects of picture support on the detail and accuracy of children's statements, and the views of legal actors on the use of image support in child interviews.
In Sweden, all children who are victims of crime, regardless of their age, maturity, or functional ability, have a legal right to be heard during criminal investigations concerning them. However, there is currently no evidence-based interview method for children who need extra communicative support. This means that children with communication difficulties, including younger preschool children and children with cognitive disabilities, find it very difficult to express themselves during child interviews, which in turn limits their ability to advance in the legal process. This project aims to investigate whether the conditions for these children during child interviews could be improved with the help of pictures as augmentative and alternative communication. To highlight the child's perspective, a children's council is involved throughout the research process, from study design and methodology to how we can interpret and disseminate the results of the project. The children's council meets twice per semester and consists of a group of children between the ages of 5 and 10 who have not participated in any of the studies.
Significance of the project
The project is significant both scientifically and practically, as there is a great need for adapted, scientifically proven methods for interviewing children that can ensure all children's right to express themselves in legal proceedings and give them the opportunity to provide testimony of high legal quality.
Sub-studies
Study I on adults', teenagers' and primary school children's understanding of pictures
The purpose of the study is to investigate how adults, teenagers and children interpret the meanings of pictures used as augmentative and alternative communication. Adults and teenagers responded to an online survey in which they watched a short film clip, answered various questions about the film clip with the help of pictures, and gave their opinions on which images they thought represented selected concepts and which concepts selected pictures represented. Elementary school students in lower and middle grades were recruited in whole classes from various elementary schools in Gothenburg and the surrounding area. The researchers in the project visited the elementary schools to conduct the study on site. The students learned about communication with images through time before they themselves had the opportunity to use pictures to retell a film clip. The entire class watched the same film clip as the adults and teenagers and then answered various questions about the clip using pictures. In addition, the students gave their opinions on which pictures they thought represented selected concepts and which concepts represented selected pictures. In addition, the elementary school students were asked to show how they themselves would draw selected words.
Study II on preschool children's understanding of images
In this study, we conducted a fun group activity with preschool children and then interviewed all the children individually about this activity. In the interviews, half of the children spoke only with words, while the other half had access to pictures to describe what happened during the activity. Which children were given access to picture support as a means of communication during the interview was decided at random. In the interviews where the children had access to picture support material, the interviewer used the interview method recommended for the selected picture support material. The interviews were recorded with video and audio and then transcribed and analyzed for accuracy and detail of the statement, the child's attention, and contact with the interviewer. After being interviewed, the children also participated in developmental psychological tests.
Study III on the views of students, guardians, and teachers in special needs schools regarding pictures as augmentative and alternative communication
In this study, we explore how children who need communicative support in their everyday lives relate to the picture support material offered. The children's experiences are explored together with their guardians' and school staff's opinions and experiences with picture support and other communicative aids. School staff are also asked for advice on best practices in dealing with children with communicative difficulties.
Study IV on legal practitioners' views on the use of pictures as augmentative and alternative communication in child interviews
In this study, we examine legal practitioners' views on the use of pictures as augmentative and alternative communication in child interviews. Child interviewers and other staff from various Barnahus in Sweden are given access to the recorded and pseudonymized interviews from studies II and III to see different examples of interviews with and without picture support. They then discuss in a focus group how they felt the picture support affected the interview and what practical implications the use of pictures as augmentative and alternative communication would have had in their work.
Members
Sara Իٰö, Lead researcher
Mikaela Magnusson, Researcher
Nina Pallasch, Associate Researcher
Linnea Koponen, PhD Student