University of Kentucky
The Impact of Instructions to Disregard on Child Witness Credibility
Institution
University of Kentucky
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Jonathan Golding
Abstract
Previous research has found that a child witness is seen as less credible than an adult witness in a criminal case. Other research has shown that a judge's instructions to disregard inadmissible testimony can create a boomerang effect, in which jurors are influenced more by the inadmissible testimony than if no admonishment had been provided. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the effect of a judge's instructions to disregard when the inadmissible testimony was provided by a child witness. Student participants will read one of four versions of a fictitious criminal trial summary in which a child or adult witness provides testimony and that testimony is followed by either instructions to disregard or no instructions to disregard. It is hypothesized that a boomerang effect, which will cause an increase in guilty verdicts, will be found with both witnesses. It is also predicted that instructions to disregard will enhance the credibility of the child witness more than that of the adult witness.
The Impact of Instructions to Disregard on Child Witness Credibility
Previous research has found that a child witness is seen as less credible than an adult witness in a criminal case. Other research has shown that a judge's instructions to disregard inadmissible testimony can create a boomerang effect, in which jurors are influenced more by the inadmissible testimony than if no admonishment had been provided. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the effect of a judge's instructions to disregard when the inadmissible testimony was provided by a child witness. Student participants will read one of four versions of a fictitious criminal trial summary in which a child or adult witness provides testimony and that testimony is followed by either instructions to disregard or no instructions to disregard. It is hypothesized that a boomerang effect, which will cause an increase in guilty verdicts, will be found with both witnesses. It is also predicted that instructions to disregard will enhance the credibility of the child witness more than that of the adult witness.