Forensic child interviews with communication boards – for children in need of language support

Background and purpose

The project comprises studies on children’s understanding of graphic symbols as a means of communication, the effects of communication boards on the level of detail and accuracy of children’s statements, and the views of legal practitioners on the use of communication boards in forensic interviews with children.

In Sweden, all children who have been victims of crime, regardless of their age, maturity or functional ability, have a right to be heard during criminal investigations concerning them. Yet there is currently no evidence-based forensic child interview method for those children who require additional language support. This means that children with communication difficulties, including younger pre-school aged children and children with cognitive disabilities, find it very difficult to have their say during forensic child interviews. This project aims to investigate whether these children’s circumstances during forensic child interviews could be improved with the help of communication boards with graphic symbols. To highlight the child’s perspective, a children’s council is involved throughout the research process, from study design and methodological planning to how we can interpret and disseminate the project’s findings. The children’s council meets once or twice per term and consists of a group of children aged between 5 and 10 who have not participated in any of the studies. 

Significance of the project

The project is of both academic and practical significance, as there is a great need for tailored, scientifically proven methods for interviewing children that can safeguard every child’s right to express themselves in legal proceedings and enable them to give evidence of a high legal standard.

The research project is funded by the Crime Victims’ Fund. 

Sub-studies

Study I on adults', teenagers' and primary school children's understanding of graphic symbols

The aim of the study was to investigate how accurate children, teenagers and adults are when using communication boards with graphic symbols to describe an event they had witnessed. The 263 participants in total were shown a short film clip and answered questions about its content with the help of visual aids. The participants were divided into two groups. In one group, participants were given communication boards consisting of graphic symbols with explanatory text, whilst the other group was not given any explanatory text. The study showed that the participants’ age did not affect their accuracy, but participants in all three age groups were more accurate when text labels were provided. The study has been published in the journal Psychology, Crime and Law and is open access, meaning you can read, download and share the study free of charge. Click on the link to access the article:
Aided Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) in investigative settings: conveying witnessed events via communication boards

Study II on preschool children's understanding of graphic symbols  

This study consists of a controlled randomised experiment in which pre-school aged children first took part in a fun and interactive activity, after which they were interviewed about the activity, with or without communication boards with graphic symbols. The interviews were recorded with video and audio and were subsequently transcribed and analysed regarding the accuracy and richness of detail in the children’s statements. The children’s level of attention and interaction with the interviewer was also measured. The study is currently under preparation. 

Study III on the views of children, guardians, and teachers in special needs schools regarding communication boards

The study, which adopted a qualitative approach, investigated how children who require communication support in their everyday lives relate to communication boardsas a form of language support. The children’s experiences were explored alongside the views and experiences of their legal guardians and school staff regarding communication aids. The study is currently under preparation. 

Study IV on legal practitioners' views on the use of communication boards in forensic child interviews   

This focus group study investigated the views of staff at Barnahus centres in Sweden on the use of communication boards with graphic symbols during forensic interviews with children.  The study is currently under preparation. 

Members

Sara Landström, Lead researcher
Mikaela Magnusson, Researcher
Nina Malmquist, PhD Student