Final answer:
Children's eyewitness memory accuracy varies by age and is heavily influenced by interview techniques. Neutral questioning enhances memory reliability, while leading questions can distort recollections. Legal interventions have been developed to minimize suggestibility and improve the reliability of children's testimony in court.
Step-by-step explanation:
The accuracy of children's eyewitness memory is influenced by a variety of factors, including the age of the child and the techniques used during interviews.
Research indicates that as children age, their ability to accurately recall events improves. However, even older children are susceptible to the misinformation effect, where erroneous details can be implanted in their memory through suggestive questioning.
In terms of interviewing technique, the use of neutral language and non-leading questions has been shown to increase the accuracy of children's recollections. Interventions, such as implementing a blind photo lineup procedure and informing jurors about the potential unreliability of eyewitness testimony, have been developed to reduce the suggestibility of witnesses and enhance the reliability of their testimony.
Furthermore, judges have the authority to suppress eyewitness testimony if deemed unreliable, as the courts recognize that eyewitness identification can sometimes lead to wrongful convictions.
Cognitive psychologists like Elizabeth Loftus have demonstrated that memory is not a perfect recording; rather, it can be altered based on the language used during questioning, as shown in studies where the estimated speed of cars in a traffic accident varied depending on the verb used in the question.
This understanding of eyewitness memory plays an essential role in legal contexts, highlighting the importance of careful interviewing practices to ensure the integrity of children's testimony.