performance (Vygotsky, 1962). Both Goodman et al (1991) and Carter et al (1996) found interviewer support improved recall and resistance to misleading questions. The children’s authors of these studies suggested interviewer support may produce these effects by reducing anxiety. Children have reported that participation in the legal process children’s can be unpleasant, and they are often anxious and apprehensive when communicating their experiences (Westcott & Davies, 1996). Consequently, the authors of the social support literature state that support provided by the interviewer should ease anxieties and children’s increase their ability to remember information correctly. 6.1.2 The relationship between anxiety and social support As mentioned in chapter 1, Davis and Bottoms (2002b) also compared the effects of supportive and non-supportive interviewers on memory performance (5-7 year children’s olds) and found similar recall effects. They also found children were less anxious in the supportive condition as measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children Spielberger et al., 1973). Almerigogna et al. (2007) conducted this study with older children (8-11 year olds) and once again found those interviewed in a non-supportive manner were less likely to correct misleading information, and were measured as more anxious by the STAI-C. The positive influence of support on anxiety can also be extended to the location in which children are asked to recall their information. Nathanson and Saywitz (2003) investigated the influence of environment on recall. They were interested in whether the court room environment decreased the amount of information remembered by children. In the study the children were asked to recall a previously experienced event in either a familiar classroom or in a court room; the authors hypothesized that the court room would be less supportive. The children were found to give more detailed free recall and correct
performance (Vygotsky, 1962). Both Goodman et al (1991) and Carter et al (1996) found interviewer support improved children’s recall and resistance to misleading questions. The authors of these studies suggested interviewer support may produce these effects by reducing children’s anxiety. Children have reported that participation in the legal process can be unpleasant, and they are often anxious and apprehensive when communicating their experiences (Westcott & Davies, 1996). Consequently, the authors of the social support literature state that support provided by the interviewer should ease children’s anxieties and increase their ability to remember information correctly. 6.1.2 The relationship between anxiety and social support As mentioned in chapter 1, Davis and Bottoms (2002b) also compared the effects of supportive and non-supportive interviewers on children’s memory performance (5-7 year olds) and found similar recall effects. They also found children were less anxious in the supportive condition as measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children Spielberger et al., 1973). Almerigogna et al. (2007) conducted this study with older children (8-11 year olds) and once again found those interviewed in a non-supportive manner were less likely to correct misleading information, and were measured as more anxious by the STAI-C. The positive influence of support on anxiety can also be extended to the location in which children are asked to recall their information. Nathanson and Saywitz (2003) investigated the influence of environment on recall. They were interested in whether the court room environment decreased the amount of information remembered by children. In the study the children were asked to recall a previously experienced event in either a familiar classroom or in a court room; the authors hypothesized that the court room would be less supportive. The children were found to give more detailed free recall and correct