A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Experience and Long‐Term Training Effects in Simulated Child Sexual Abuse Interviews
Authors: Pompedda, Francesco; Segal, Aleksandr; Haginoya, Shumpei; Bakaitytė, Aistė; Ustinavičiūtė‐Klenauskė, Laura; Kaniušonytė, Goda; Žukauskienė, Rita; Santtila, Pekka
Publisher: Wiley
Publishing place: HOBOKEN
Publication year: 2025
Journal: Applied Cognitive Psychology
Journal name in source: Applied Cognitive Psychology
Journal acronym: APPL COGNITIVE PSYCH
Article number: e70051
Volume: 39
Issue: 2
Number of pages: 20
ISSN: 0888-4080
eISSN: 1099-0720
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.70051
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.70051
Previous research has shown that simulated interviews with avatars can improve question quality, but evidence regarding long-term effects and the role of experience remains limited. We investigated both short- and long-term impacts of avatar training with feedback in Child Protection Services (CPS) worker and student groups. Thirty-one CPS workers and 35 novice students interviewed four child avatars, with half receiving feedback after each interview. After 4 months, the training was repeated with all participants receiving feedback. Training with feedback improved investigative interview quality in the short term, with no substantial decline after 4 months. Experience had no effects on interview quality, nor did it moderate training impact. These findings suggest that avatar-based interview training with feedback could effectively improve investigative interviewing skills across different experience levels, maintaining its effects over a 4-month period.
Funding information in the publication:
The data collection was funded by the European Regional Development Fund (project UNCOVABUSE No 01.2.2-LMTK-718-03-0067) under grant agreement with the Research Council of Lithuania. The work for Aleksandr Segal, Aistė Bakaitytė and Rita Žukauskienė was funded by the State Budget titled ‘Establishment of Centers of Excellence at Mykolas Romeris University’, which is implemented under the initiative ‘Centers of Excellence Initiative’ initiated by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports of the Republic of Lithuania.
