Final answer:
Neutral, non-threatening questions about familiar and pleasant experiences, such as a recent trip to Disneyland, are appropriate for the rapport-building phase of the NICHD protocol when a child alleges sexual assault. Direct questions about the allegation are not suitable at this stage.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a child alleges sexual assault, it is crucial to build rapport carefully without leading or influencing their account of events. The NICHD Protocol emphasizes the importance of starting with neutral topics to establish comfort and trust. A question like "Your mom said you went to Disneyland. Did you see Mickey Mouse? What was Disneyland like?" is appropriate for rapport building. This question is non-threatening, allows the child to discuss familiar and pleasant experiences, and helps to build trust before more sensitive topics are broached. In contrast, asking directly about the allegation ("What happened at the school?" or "You claimed that something happened at school, is that correct?") would not be suitable at this phase as it might be leading and could influence the child's responses. In the context of memories and the potential for misinformation effects, as discussed by Elizabeth Loftus and exemplified through the research by Stephen Ceci and Maggie Brucks, it is essential to allow the child to express their experiences in their own words without any suggestion or prompt that could steer their narrative.