Ross et. al - Effect of Shields and Videotape on Children Giving Evidence

Ross et. al - Effect of Shields and Videotape on Children Giving Evidence

1. Ross et. al

2. Aims

   • To find out if the use of protective shields and videotaped testimony increases the likelihood of a guilty verdict
   • To investigate the effect of protective devices on jury reaction to testimony
     • does credibility inflate or deflate

3. 300 students (150 each gender)

   • 100 each condition
   • majority were white and middle class
   • told it was a study of psychology and the law
   • part of an introductory psychology class

4. mock trial based on real transcript

   • professional film crew recorded actors
   • three versions (conditions) created
     • child's testimony came via video link
     • child behind 4x6ft screen
     • child in full view

5. participants watched one of the three 2hr films

   • court case of alleged abuse
   • defendant was child's father
   • witnesses were mother, two experts (one for each side), and child herself
   • alleged single touch was when father was giving child a bath
     • case focused on whether it was innocent or sexual

6. judge in case read warning to jury before screen or videotape was used

   • they should not imply guilt by their use

7. afterwards participants gave verdicts and rated credibility of child witness

   • on various aspects of her story
   • also rated defendant on a variety of dimensions of his credibility

8. guilty verdicts show no significant difference between conditions

   • significant difference between males and females however
     • 58.6% of females and only 38.6% of males found him guilty

9. jury's perception of defendant credibility did not change

   • once again there was a gender difference
     • more females rated less credibility

10. same pattern emerged for witness credbility

    • no difference across conditions
    • gender difference - females rated higher child credibility

11. follow up experiment done whereby tapes were stopped after child testimony

    • participants in open court now more likely to convict

12. For a lot of cases which involve kidnapping and domestic violence, the only other child is a witness

    • However giving evidence can be a traumatic experience for a child
      • Protective Screens and Videolinks are therefore being used more frequently
        • Although, this may look as though the child needs 'protecting' from the defendant, leading juries to make the assumption that they are therefore guilty