Presenter(s): Ashleigh Martins
Faculty Mentor(s): Lynette Danley
Data Story 3 CLN
Child abuse may occur in several ways, and in various environments. This project will look specifically at Child Sex Abuse (CSA) cases that were initiated and have taken place in-person only. Cases that began in an online environment but transitioned to face-to-face, or are based only online, have different components which will be investigated in future work. For this project, we propose the use of existing data: previously recorded forensic interviews performed at Child Advocacy Centers. We intend to utilize forensic interviews to determine whether there may be common speech patterns and behaviors that occur early in the grooming process of CSA. The research question we ask is: Are there earlier indicators of abuse than our current understanding? Forensic interviews are conducted by experts with special training in a specific environment. They are 1) video recorded, and, 2) done in a manner which elicits information from the interviewee, without contaminating the story with suggestions or any “leading” from the interviewer. Through the strategic use of these interviews, data is readily available and would be as free from interview errors as possible (i.e. interviewer opinions or suggestions) — and without further imposition upon survivors of having to do additional interviewing — while illuminating predatory behavior. The potential implications of this work are far-reaching. If new patterns are discovered, prevention measures would be updated accordingly, and information disseminated to communities. If existing patterns are confirmed, we would have stronger evidence to support current prevention measures.